Resort helps family recover

Six months on, fishermen have repaired their vessels and are overcoming their fear of the ocean. Photo / Jane Ussher (for Oxfam)

The Taufua family have not let mother nature break their well-known family business, opening its doors to tourists once more.

Taufua Beach Fales resort was totally destroyed when the September 29 tsunami hit their village, Lalomanu.

Up to 13 members of the Taufua family and a number of guests - including Matamata sisters Petria and Rebecca Martin - were killed.

But six months on, beach fales, a restaurant and a bar are standing in Lalomanu once more, to replace those wiped out.

Owner Tai Apelu-Taufua said the family started rebuilding their resort last November, after deciding that their greatest tribute to their lost loved ones was to continue the business.

"It's helping us move forward," Mrs Apelu-Taufua said. "It's still sad. But their memories and the love we had are still here. [Rebuilding] gives not only our family hope, but also other families in the village."

A total of 16 fales have been rebuilt and another 10 open fales are to be completed soon.

Locals from within the village have also benefited from the Taufuas' reopening of their resort, with the family employing many of them.

"We're fully booked until the end of the year," Mrs Apelu-Taufua said.

A memorial plaque with the names of the tsunami victims will be unveiled in September.