title: Lakena
text: # Lakena
  
  Lake na is an islet of Nanumea atoll, Tuvalu. Nanumean traditions describe Lakena as being formed when sand spilled from the baskets of two women, Pai and Vau, when they were forced off Nanumea by Tefolaha, the Tongan warrior who became the ancestor of the people of $Nanumea.^{:49}$
  
  The pulaka pits are located on Lake na as the Nanumeans want the main island of Nanumea to remain mosquito free. Pul aka is grown in large pits of composted soil below the water $table.^{:55–56}$ During World War II the people of Nanumea moved to Lakena so that the American forces could build an airfield on Nanumea.
  
  