Oral History of Moroni High School

Auriaria Kokoi Ataria School (AKAS)

Attending Auriaria Kokori Ataria School (AKAS)

Memories of AKAS o Mr Waitea Atariao His vision

Attending Liahona High School 1975o Selection processo Learning Englisho Adjusting to a new cultureo Conversion to the Church

Returning to Tarawa (1979)

The Early Church [1979-1981; 1988-1996]o Early Church Leaders and missionarieso Missionary worko First branches of the churcho Organization of the District Kiribati Districto Others

Other church information o Establishment of the First Stakeo President Hinckley’ visit

Moroni Community to Moroni High School

The beginning of Moroni Community Schoolo Church taking over AKASo Students – faculty – administration (leadership)o Other interesting stories/information

Transition to Moroni High School

Being a Principal

First Buildings at School Moroni Higho Early Builders (employees & students)

Attending AKAS

Significant years (1972-1974)

oChurch official visited AKAS (1972)

o First group of AKAS students went to Tonga (1973)

oHospitalization o Attended AKAS (1974)

Memories of AKAS Mr Waitea Ataria

His Vision -o 1967 Strong feeling came to Mr Waitea to leave the public school and start his own school

o “E a bon roko te iango ae kamimi bwa I a kan kitana te Botaki n Reirei n te Tautaeka..”

o Difficulties: (1) Prohibited under the NCS(2) Had no Land to build on

(3) Building material

o Feb 2, 1967 - Mr Robuti Tabanou offered his personal land in Eita.

o “On Feb 2, 1967 Mr Robuti Tabanou came to offer me a land to build a home on for my family. I went with him to inspect the land .. It was big enough for what I had in mind so I immediately went there with my father and my mother to build a small local flat roof house and they moved into it right away. Luckily it wasn’t raining that day. Everyday after work I would go there to help my parents complete the house and build other local houses. I then went from house to house within the Eita village to share my vision with the people. There were those who shared my ideas as well as those who did not. “ (Waitea Ataria, school written history).

o Inspired School Songs “Te tai ni kukurei “ and “A roko tain raure ni ngao”

Memories of AKAS

Humble teachers and classrooms Food (Nei Tene’s soup recipe) Daily work program Morning parade and flag ceremonies Devotionals led by Pastor Ataria Fund raising activities (dances at TUC Maneaba) Mockeries from other schools Cooking Day!

Memories of AKAS

Mr Waitea: Man of great vision

In 1967 he wanted toleave the Public School

“E a bon roko te iango ae kamimi irou bwa I a kan kitana te Botaki n Reirei n te Tauraeka ma ni katea oin au reirei” (Waitea ‘s written personal history, p.1).

Mr. Waitea Ataria Abiuta

“On Feb 2, 1967 Mr Robuti Tabanou came to offer me a land to build a home on for my family. I went with him to inspect the land . It was big enough for what I had in mind so I immediately went there with my father and my mother to build a small local flat roof house and they moved into it right away. Luckily it wasn’t raining that day. Everyday after work I would go there to help my parents complete the house and build other local houses. I then went from house to house within the Eita village to share my vision with the people. There were those who shared my ideas as well as those who did not. “(Waitea ‘s personal written history, p.1).

Girls Dormitory, about 1973

Maneaba 1973

Classrooms 1974

Te Tai ni Kukurei1. Te tai ni marurung te kukurei

Bwa e a kateaki iaoni bouanaN aroni iangoana ao n aron taekanaBwa e a tia e a bobonga AKAS ae ara reirei

2. Te tai ni kukurei te tai ni ngarenareBwa e a tia raoi are bobouakiN aroni iangoana ao n aron taekanaBwa e a tia e a bobonga AKAS ae ara reirei

3. Te tai n takarua te tai n ebiebiBwa e a tio manna te man tokanikaiN aron iangoana ao n aron taekanaBwa e a tia bobonga AKAS ae ara reirei

A Roko Tain Raure ni Ngao It ‘s Time for a Flock to Leave its Next

1. A roko tain raure ni ngao ao a nang kibanako; man ni kiba man te nanai ni man are; E ngao iaoni mwangana, e ngao iaon taberana; Man te tabo ni kawai ae Tabuarorae.

1. It’s time for a flock to leave its nest; birds that nest on the branches and on tree tops; from Ancient Tabuarorae.

Chorus: Tabuarorae bon te tabo ni mwaane; te tabo ae moamoa n aron taekana, ae ranga mai iai te ran ae te ran ae mwaitoro, mani mwanibwan AKAS as bon ara reirei.

Chorus: Tabuaroare is a man’s place; it is most famous according to legends; from which cold waters flow, from the wells of AKAS our school.

2. A roko tain raure ni ngao ao a nang kibanako, ma ni kiba man te nanai ni man are; e ngao baurua I nukana e ngao baurua i marenana, man te tabo ni kawai ae Tabuarorae.

2. It’s time for a flock to leave its nest; birds that nest abundantly in the tree at the centre and at the tree top; from Ancient Tabuarorae.

A Roko Tain Raure ni Ngao The Nesting Birds Fly Out

3. A roko tain raure ni ngao ao a nang kibanako; mannikiba man te nanai ni man are, e ngao iaoni manibwebwena, e ngao iaon taberana, man te tabo ni kawai ae Tabuarorae.

3. It’s time for a flock to leave its nest; birds that nest on young shoots and on tree tops; from ancient Tabuarorae.

4. A roko tain raure ni ngao ao a nang kibanako; manikiba man te nanai ni man are; e ngao i maeang ao i maiaki, e ngao i maeao ao i mainiku; man te tabo ni kawai ae Tabuarorae.

4. It’s time for a flock to leave its nest; birds that nest northwards and southwards; westwards and eastwards; from ancient Tabuarorae.

AKAS to Liahona High SchoolAKAS Liahona High School

Challenges: 1. New Language 2. New Culture 3. Faith

Early Missionary Work in Kiribati

First 6 local missionaries arrived in Tarawa 16 October 1975

20 October 1975 President Kenneth M. Palmer’s dedicatory prayer

Baptism of Waitea Ataria Abiuta late 197524 January 1976 Waitea become first local branch president

Opposition force Waitea to ask help from CES officials:

o Some financial relief

o Grant & Pat Howlett Family

o President Waitea left the school in 1977 and Grant Howlett became principal of Moroni Comminuty School

Grant and Pat Howlett Family

1979

1981

1988

August 1996

1996

2000

2000

TE TAI NI KUKUREI A TIME TO REJOICE

Te tai ni marurung te tai kukurei;Bwa e a kateaki iaoni bouanaN aroni iangoana ao n aron taekanaBwa e a tia e a bobonga AKAS ae ara reirei!

A time to be strong and a time to be happy; It’s being erected according to the vision and the plan,For it is finished and complete AKAS our school!

Te tai ni kukurei te tai ni ngarenareBwa e a tia raoi are bobouakiN aroni iangoana ao n aron taekanaBwa e a tia e a bobonga AKAS ae ara reirei!

A time to be happy and a time to show a smile, It’s complete that which was first started, According to the vision and the plan.It’s finished and complete - AKAS our school!

Te tai n takarua te tai n ebiebiBwa e a tio manna te man tokanikaiN aron iangoana ao n aron taekanBwa e a tia bobonga AKAS ae ara reirei

A time to shout and a time to rejoiceThe banner of victory is now unfurled According to the vision and the plan It’s built and complete - AKAS our school!