Falaleu

Falaleu
Village
Festival of To'okava taking place in Falaleu
Falaleu Location in Wallis Island
Coordinates: 13°17′36″S176°10′54″W / 13.29333°S 176.18167°W / -13.29333; -176.18167
Country	France
Territory	Wallis and Futuna
Island	Wallis
Chiefdom	Uvea
District	Hahake
Population  (2022)
• Total	550
Time zone	UTC+12

Falaleu is a village in Wallis and Futuna. It is one of 7 villages located in the Hahake District on the east coast of Wallis Island. Its population according to the 2023 census was 550 people. ^{[1] [2]}

Location

Falaleu is on the south border of the village Mata-Utu, and on the east coast of the island. Administratively, it falls within Hahake district, one of three districts on Wallis. There are a total of 7 villages within the Hahake district, and 21 villages on Wallis overall. ^[2]

Governance

Falaleu is home to Fale Fonu, the traditional residence of the Fotu'atamai, the customary minister of health, justice and land disputes in the Kingdom of Uvea. ^[3] The island of Wallis is ruled by a King, known as Lavelua, appointed within a Royal Family. The King is supported by a Prime Minister. The island is further divided into three districts, of which Falaleu is in Hahake. Each district is headed by a Chief and each of the 21 villages are led by village chiefs. ^[2]

Culture

Every year, during the Feast of the Assumption (August 15), which corresponds to the festival of the district of Hahake, the inhabitants of Falaleu bring many products to Mata-Utu that they have made and collected: crafts, fishing, agriculture. This ceremony is called to'okava. Women present their achievements, such as weaving and tapa cloths . ^{[4] [5]}

Etymology

In the Tongan language fala means "pandanus" (a fruit) and leu means "ripe". Falaleu therefore refers to "ripe pandanus". ^{[6] [7]}

Population

According to the 2018 census, the village had a population of 572 people. However, by 2023, this figure had dropped to 550. ^{[1] [8]}

References

1. "Population municipale des villages des îles Wallis et Futuna (recensement 2018)". INSEE . Retrieved 21 February 2020.
2. "The Territorial Assembly of Wallis and Futuna | Assemblée Territoriale de Wallis et Futuna". www.assembleeterritoriale.wf. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
3. "Falaleu". La1ere. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
4. "Tauaki". Musee Nouvelle Caledonie. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
5. "Traditional skills & crafts - Tourisme à Wallis et Futuna". www.wallis-futuna.travel. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
6. "Samoan plant names". ipfs.io. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
7. "Wallisian language | dominicweb.eu". dominicweb.eu. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
8. "Falaleu (Village, Wallis and Futuna) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 24 June 2025.