The Treasures Destined for Me

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This tabua (sperm whale tooth), the highest Fijian token of respect, is a sacred piece of my family history. Paramount chief Ratu Sir Edward Cakobau—son of King George Tupou II of Tonga and halfbrother to Queen Salote—presented five small tabuasto my maternal grandmother, Frances Boulton, for her five children and their firstborns. My mother, Jacqueline Grace Louise Boulton, was the youngest; as her eldest child, this treasure was destined for me.

My connection to Pacific leadership shaped my very identity. Born April 12, 1979, I was named Rupert Joseph Boulton by Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister, Ratu David Brown Toganivalu (my grandmother’s brother), after the 17th-century polymath Prince Rupert of the Rhine. Later, Ratu Sir Edward’s son married Adi Akanisi Vunitiko Serukalou Dreunimisimisi, who became my Anglican Godmother.

Displayed here with a photograph of Ratu Sir Edward over masi (barkcloth), this heirloom honors a multi-generational tapestry of spiritual kinship, genuine friendship, and true belonging.

Photo caption if needed.

Rupert Joseph Boulton

Rupert Joseph Boulton immigrated from Fiji to the US two years ago. He works in the caregiving industry in Sonoma County.