A Father’s Wish: Naea’s Unfulfilled Dream

Okirua Naea’s biggest wish is for his children to meet the man who raised him to be the father he is today.

Naiya, a 34-year-old father of three, lost his father more than a decade ago before his wife gave birth to their first child.

This Father’s Day, he reminisced about the teachings his father taught him, which he believes are the reason he is getting better and better as a father.

“I 100 percent want them to meet my father,” Naea told Cook Islands News.

“My kids haven’t met my dad yet so it’s a little different, but what I’ve learned from him is to take care of your family, support them and enjoy spending time with your friends.”

Despite his father’s absence, Naea is grateful for the relationship he has built with his father-in-law, a second chance at a father-son relationship that he cherishes and loves.

“It’s all good, at the moment he’s passed away and the next best thing is my father-in-law, so it’s all good so far,” he said.

Naea, who had his first child at the age of 26, says being a father is a blessing. From the first time he held his first child in his arms, he has been grateful for his happiness as a father.

“For me, having children is a blessing and being their father has been an amazing journey and a great opportunity.”

However, as a sports enthusiast and keen fisherman, Naiya admits that there will still be many challenges along the way.

“The challenge is finding time to get away from work and everyday life and spend time with them. When we get home from get off work, like everyone else, we’re tired, but the kids still have energy to play, so I can’t play with them or be with them because I’m always tired.”

For Naea and his young family, culture and religion play a big role in their lives and upbringing, and they guide their children in these areas.

“Parents should keep technology away from their kids. For me, I hate it when my kids are on their phones, so I just take my kids out, do chores, play with other kids because my wife brings a lot of kids home, so that does help keep them away from the TV,” he said.

“I encourage other parents to do things with their kids, to make time for them, to do those little things with them, even if it’s just small things, because the little things matter.

“My advice to fathers is to love your family, love your children, spend time with them and enjoy the present moment.”