Elekana

Elekana was the first person to introduce Christianity to the Pacific islanders in what is now called Tuvalu. He was born in the Cook Islands in the 19th century, although the dates of his birth and death are unknown.

History
Christianity came to Tuvalu in 1861 when Elekana, a deacon of a Congregational church in Manihiki, Cook Islands, became caught in a storm and drifted for 8 weeks in a canoe before landing at Nukulaelae in the Ellice Islands on 10 May 1861. The distance between the two places is approximately 2,772 km.

Elekana began proselytising during the four months he spent on the atoll. He travelled to Funafuti where he also preached before returning to Samoa. He then trained at the London Missionary Society (LMS) Malua Theological College in Samoa before beginning his work in establishing the Church of Tuvalu. The "miraculous" drift voyage of Elekana was featured in the publications of the LMS.

Elekana, Ioane and Matatia, graduates of Malua Theological College, were appointed by the LMS to work in the Ellice Islands. Elekana and the other teachers started work in the Ellice Islands in 1865; travelling to the islands with the Revd. A. W. Murray of the LMS.

Monument
The "Elekana Tuvalu-Christianity Memorial 1861" is a monument that is located on Nukulaelae atoll.