Tokelauan Etymology From Proto-Polynesian *tuqu-maqu. Cognates include Hawaiian kūmau and Samoan tūmau. Pronunciation IPA(key): [ˈtuː.ma.u] Hyphenation: tū‧ma‧u Verb tūmau (intransitive) to remain permanent 1948, Tūlāfono fakavae a Tokelau [Constitution of Tokelau], page 1:Ko Tokelau e fakavae tumau i te Atua.Tokelau is founded permanently on God. References R. Simona, editor (1986), Tokelau Dictionary, Auckland: Office of Tokelau Affairs, page 409Wikiwand - on Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.