"Finding the Way"
(Written by Opetaia Foa'i)

TOKELAUAN

​Nofonofo tagata kaiga 
Te hauniga te vaka tenei 
ke makeke 
(tuku mai te mana) 
e lagona tagata kaiga 
(te mana, te manatu o tenei nuku katoa) 
ke fakamavae te vaega 
(ke manuia te malaga) 
olo olo te malaga 
malamalama 
e lagona 
e malamalama 

maea 
te aumaga tu ki luga 
toho te vaka 
toho te vaka 
​
toho toho te vaka tenei 
ke makeke 
nofonofo tagata kaiga 
kae fakatofa te vaega 
olo olo te malaga 
malamalama 
te malaga 
e malamalama 
matou uma 
matou uma 

ENGLISH
​
Family remain behind
Make preparations for this canoe
​make it strong
(requesting the mana) 
entire families are feeling it
 (the mana, the request of this entire village) 
we farewell this group
(for a successful journey)
going on a journey
​we understand
​filled with emotion
but it’s understood

​it’s ready
​men stand up
pull out the canoe
​pull out the canoe

pulling out the canoe
​be strong
family remain behind
we farewell this group
going on a journey
​we understand
​the journey
it’s understood
​by us all
​by us all