LEMEKI LENOA (SNR) – WE THANK YOU.

Members of the Fiji Amateur Sports and National Olympic Committee, Conservation International representatives, work colleagues, families and friends converged at the Lenoa’s residence to join Ma and sons Lemeki (Junior), Beato, Pita and James in celebrating the wonderful life of their late husband and father, Lemeki Lenoa (Snr), the former President of Fiji Karate Federation and former OKF Assistant Secretary.

A humble human being who had created a niche dedicating his life to family, karate and his professional work.

Lemeki’s most outstanding quality is, his words and actions speak the same message; a true gentleman who leads by example and a great conservation professional, who never paraded his knowledge but rather puts into practise for the common good of the community he served and for those who needed his help.

This rare quality was clearly demonstrated when in response to Sensei Pene Nonu, then Fiji Karate Federation’s President, requested Lemeki & Ma’s assistance in the Fiji Karate Federation’s preparation for the 2003 South Pacific Games held in Suva, Fiji; and again at the 10th Oceania Karate Championships held in Suva in 2004 where Lemeki was the Chairman of the Organising Committee. And these responsibilities were rendered without Lemeki or Ma being officials of the Fiji Karate Federation. This measure of commitment and dedication is a rare gem which was admired by most who knew him.

Due to work commitment Sensei Pene Nonu again requested Lemeki to take over as President of FKF in January 2005 until his demise in August 2006.

The Fiji Karate Federation will stand by the aspirations which Lemeki Lenoa held and pursued.

At the 11th Oceania Karate Championship in Noumea in September 2006 the late Sensei John Halpin, former President of the Oceania Karate Federation, in paying tribute to Lemeki had this to say:

“I believe we should seek to achieve harmony in life. Inside each of us there are many forces in operation. On a cursory examination these forces appear to be in opposition but on a much deeper examination these forces are found in actual fact to be complementary.

It is the harmonious blending or the disharmonious blending of these forces which make us who we really are in life. We have all heard the analogy of a branch of a tree that does not give in strong winds and subsequently breaks and also a flexible tree may be blown away if it does not have strong roots.

Similarly in life, a person who is too rigid in their thinking may result in a breakdown and a person who cannot stand up for themselves finds it extremely difficult to achieve anything in life.

We should be flexible as the river, strong as the rock, as the problems in life necessitate.

One person who made a beautiful harmonious blend of his life was Lemeki Lenoa. Respect for others played an important part in Lemeki’s life and now it is our turn to respect him; this wonderful human being who was also our colleague and our friend.”