Tonga



Culture Name

Tongan

Alternative Names

Friendly Islands

Orientation

Identification. The name "Tonga" is composed of to (to plant) and nga (a place). It also means "south." According to the most recent archaeological findings, people arrived in the archipelago from Fiji around 1500 B.C.E. Thus, it is appropriate to translate the nation's name as "land lying in the south."

Location and Geography. Tonga is an archipelago of one hundred fifty islands, thirty-six of which are inhabited. There are four major groups of islands: the Tongatapu, Ha'apai, Vava'u, and Niua groups. Most of the islands are raised coral islands, some are volcanic, and a few are atolls. Coral beaches lined with palm trees and emerald lagoons with luxuriant tropical vegetation are characteristic features. The capital, Nuku'alofa, is on Tongatapu.

Demography. The population was 97,784 according to the 1996 census. Since 1891, the growth rate has increased steadily, peaking in the 1950s and 1960s. Migration to New Zealand, Australia, and the United States in the 1970s and 1980s resulted in slower growth. Internal migration has been from the outer, northern, and central islands toward the southern island of Tongatapu. A third of the population (31,404) lives in the capital.

Linguistic Affiliation. Tongan is an Austronesian language of the Oceanic subgroup. It belongs to the Western Polynesian languages, specifically the Tongic group. There are three social dialects: one for talking to the king, one for chiefs and nobles, and one for the common people. "Talking chiefs" are among the few who know all three dialects; they mediate in official ceremonies and in encounters between the king, the nobility, and the commoners.

Seventy years as a British protectorate (until 1970) resulted in widespread knowledge of English. Though much of the village population knows little English, in Nuku'alofa and other major towns, most business transactions are conducted in it. English is taught in elementary schools and is the language of most high school instruction. However, Tongan is the language commonly spoken in the streets, shops, markets, schools, offices, and churches.

History and Ethnic Relations

Emergence of the Nation. The Tongan creation myth describes how the islands were fished from the ocean by Maui, one of the three major gods. Another myth explains how 'Aho'eitu became the first Tu'i Tonga (king). He was the son of a human female and the god Tangaloa. Human and divine at the same time, the Tu'i Tonga was the embodiment of the Tongan people, and this is still a powerful metaphor.

Tongans were fierce warriors and skilled navigators whose outrigger canoes could carry up to two hundred people. For centuries they exercised political and cultural influence over several neighboring islands. By the time of the first European contact in late 1700s and early 1800s, the empire had collapsed, and the authority of the Tu'i Tonga was restricted mostly to the religious realm.

National Identity. King George Tupou I, the first king of modern Tonga, introduced the constitution in 1875 after unifying the four island groups. He had previously converted to Christianity and opportunistically waged expansionist wars from Ha'apai to Vava'u and then to Tongatapu. Christian principles characterize the constitution, which very likely was prepared under the influence of Wesleyan

Tonga
Tonga
missionaries. George Tupou I transformed Tonga into a modern state, abolishing slavery and the absolute power of chiefs. Since the last Tu'i Tonga had no official heir, as the head of the other two royal lines, King George became the only king of Tonga. The 1875 constitution recognizes only his royal line.

In 1900, the British granted Tonga's request for protectorate status. In 1970, all powers were restored to the Tongan monarchy. The British protectorate shielded Tonga from other colonizing powers. A spirit of independence and pride was nurtured during the long reign of Queen Salote (1918–1965), who led the nation into the twentieth century, paying special attention to preserving its heritage. Because of her vision, Tongan culture is an integral part of the school curriculum. Students learn Tongan history, traditional poetry, music, and dancing, along with wood carving, mat weaving, and bark cloth making.

Urbanism, Architecture, and the Use of Space

The first European visitors spoke of a population scattered throughout a densely cultivated land. Now Tongans are concentrated in villages and small towns. Most villages lie around an empty area, called mala'e , that is used for social gatherings and games. A traditional house stands on a raised platform of stones and sand. It is oval in shape with a thatched roof and walls of woven palm tree panels. The toilet and the kitchen are in separate huts. Contemporary houses are usually bigger and made of timber with corrugated iron roofs. Little furniture is used.

The simplicity of house architecture contrasts with the monumentality of earlier royal buildings and tombs. The royal tombs are layered pyramidal structures built of massive stone slabs. The huge Ha'amonga trilithon, made of two stone columns topped with a notched column, was built around 1200 C.E. One hypothesis suggests that it was the door to the royal compound, and another that it was used for astronomical purposes. These monuments bear witness to the power of the Tu'i Tonga. They also indicate the sophisticated stone-cutting technology and skills of the ancient craftsmen.

Food and Economy

Food in Daily Life. Both in villages and in the main towns, food is the occasion for a family gathering only at the end of the day. Otherwise, food is consumed freely at any time. The basic staples are root crops like taro accompanied by fried or roasted meat or fish. Taro leaves are one of the various green vegetables used together with a variety of tropical fruits like bananas, pineapples, and mangoes.

Food Customs at Ceremonial Occasions. The ritual of kava drinking characterizes both formal and daily events. Kava is prepared by grinding dried roots and mixing the powder with water in a ceremonial bowl. It is nonalcoholic but slightly narcotic. People sit cross-legged in an elliptical pattern whose long axis is headed by the bowl on one side and by the highest-ranked participant on the other. The preparation and serving of the drink are done by a young woman, usually but not always the only female participant, or by male specialists. The

The royal palace in Nukualofa. Tonga is a constitutional monarchy.
The royal palace in Nukualofa. Tonga is a constitutional monarchy.
formal coronation of a ruler and formal receptions for foreign delegations are marked by a kava ceremony. Kava clubs are found in the towns, and kava drinking gatherings take place almost daily in the villages.

Basic Economy. The economy centers on agriculture and fishing. Major exports are vanilla, fish, handicrafts, and pumpkins grown for export to Japan. King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV has modernized the country's economy. Based largely on foreign aid from New Zealand, Australia, the United States, and the European Community and on imports, this process has created a widespread presence of Western products. The agricultural base of the economy remains. The tourist industry is growing, and revenues from Tongans working abroad are one of the largest sources of income.

Typical agricultural produce are root crops such as taro, tapioca, sweet potatoes, and yams. Coconuts, bananas, mangoes, papayas, pineapples, watermelons, peanuts, and vegetables are grown. Pigs and fowl are abundant and free ranging. Cows, sheep, and goats also are present. Intensive shellfishing is conducted along the shores, and there is an abundant fish supply.

Royal visits and funerals call for the preparation of large amounts of food. Roasted piglets are laid in the center of a pola (tray) made of woven palm tree leaves. Root crops, meats, and shellfish prepared in the 'umu (underground oven) are added and garnished with fresh fruits, decorative flowers, ribbons, and balloons. In villages, food is consumed while one sits on a mat; in towns, tables are used.

Land Tenure and Property. All land is owned by the king, the nobles, and the government. Foreigners cannot own land by constitutional decree. Owners have the right to sublet land to people who pay a tribute, traditionally food. Every citizen above age 16 is entitled to lease eight and a quarter acres of land from the government for a small sum, but the growing population and its concentration in the capital make it increasingly difficult to exercise this right.

Social Stratification

Classes and Castes. Traditional society had at its top the ha'a tu'i (kings), followed by the hou'eiki (chiefs), ha'a matapule (talking chiefs), kau mu'a (would-be talking chiefs), and kau tu'a (commoners). All titles were heritable and followed the male line of descent almost exclusively. This hierarchical social structure is still essentially in place.

Tribute to the chiefs was paid twice a year. Agricultural produce and gifts such as butchered animals, bark cloth, and mats were formally offered to the Tu'i Tonga and, through him, to the gods in an elaborate ceremony called 'inasi . The king now visits all the major islands at least once a year on the occasion of the Royal Agriculture Show. The gift giving and formalities at the show closely resemble those of the 'inasi .

The 1875 constitution eliminated the title of chief and introduced the title of nopele (noble), which was given to thirty-three traditional chiefs. Only nobles and the king are now entitled to own and distribute land. An increasingly market-oriented economy and an expanding bureaucracy have recently added a middle class that runs the gamut from commoners to chiefs. Newly acquired wealth, however, does not easily overcome social barriers rooted in history. Often claims to higher social status are established by claiming kinship to holders of aristocratic titles.

Political Life

Government. The Kingdom of Tonga is a constitutional monarchy. The constitution prescribes a legislative assembly with twenty members representing the thirty-three nobles and twenty members elected as people's representatives. In 1984, both groups were reduced to nine each. Twelve other members are appointed by the king: ten Cabinet members including the prime minister, who is also the governor of Tongatapu, and the governors of Ha'apai and Vava'u. In the 1993 election, six of the people's representatives belonged to the new Pro-Democracy Movement that in 1994 became the Democratic Party founded by 'Akilisi Pohiva.

The kingdom is divided into districts, each headed by a district officer. Every three years, each village elects a town officer who represents the government and holds village meetings ( fono ) where government regulations are made known. Every villager above 16 years of age is entitled to attend. People do not take part in the decision-making process but show approval or dissent through their implementation of the instructions.

Social Welfare and Change Programs

Every citizen is entitled to free primary education, a plot of land at age 16, and free medical care. Hospitals, dispensaries, and pharmacies are distributed over the territory. Smaller government clinics are present in some villages in the outer islands.

To support the modernization of the country, in 1977 the Tongan Development Bank was established. Financed by the World Bank and contributions from New Zealand and Australia, it provides low-interest loans for entrepreneurs. Foreigners who want to invest in the country need a Tongan partner for any economic venture.

Nongovernmental Organizations and Other Associations

The U.S. Peace Corps, the Japanese Overseas Cooperation Volunteers, and development organizations connected with the British, New Zealand, and Australian governments are among the active aid agencies. They work in the fields of education, health, agriculture, and entrepreneurship.

Gender Roles and Statuses

Division of Labor by Gender. The introduction of wage labor in twentieth century privileged men, altering an equilibrium between genders that had lasted for centuries. Cash is now an element of wealth, and wage-earning men have easier access to it. However, the old egalitarian attitude toward the two sexes has not been altered by economic and technological changes. In contemporary offices, shops, and banks, working women are prominent. In villages, most men take care of the land or tend animals. Women weave mats and make bark cloth.

Both women and men actively participate in parenting. Food preparation is shared between the male and female members of a family. The preparation of the 'umu (underground oven), now restricted to Sundays and special occasions, is an almost exclusive male activity. Older children help with activities and household chores.

The Relative Status of Women and Men. The hierarchical system's emphasis on the higher status of females guarantees an equal role in society for females and males in spite of the fact that men usually inherit titles and land.

Marriage, Family, and Kinship

Marriage. There are no explicit rules for marriage, and couples are formed through reciprocal free choice. Pronounced social stratification discourages marriages between people of vastly different social status. Divorce is legal and not uncommon. During a wedding, the two kainga involved exchange mats, bark cloth, and food. On the day of the ceremony, the bride and groom "wear their wealth." They are wrapped in their best mats and bark cloth, their

Tongan students use microscopes as part of a science experiment. Tonga has an almost universal rate of literacy.
Tongan students use microscopes as part of a science experiment. Tonga has an almost universal rate of literacy.
bodies shine with precious oils, and they wear flower necklaces and hair adornments.

Kin Groups. Kinship ties are of paramount importance. The two major kin groups are famili (family) and kainga (extended family). A famili consists of a married couple and their children living in the same house and usually includes male and/or female collaterals and affinals. The 'ulumotu'a (head of the family) presides over this group. A kainga consists of relatives living in different households in the same village or in several villages. They are related by bilateral relationships of consanguinity in a cognatic system. Membership in kin groups is restricted to fewer and closer relatives than it was in the past.

The parameters in establishing hierarchy at any level of society are gender and age. A female is always considered higher in rank than a male. Inheritance of land and titles goes through the male line, and primogeniture rule usually is enforced. Because of traditional brother-sister avoidance, 10-year-old boys sleep in a separate house. Though avoidance is less strictly enforced now, it still affects daily life. Topics such as sex and activities such as watching videos are not shared between brothers and sisters.

Socialization

Infant Care and Child Rearing. The birth of a child is among the most important events, but the official social introduction of a child to the community is celebrated only at the end of a child's first year. Mothers increasingly give birth in modern hospitals, and infant mortality has decreased. Infants typically are breast-fed and sleep in their parents' bed until age 5 to 8 years. Parents are the main caretakers, but in an extended family everybody contributes to parenting. This feeling of shared parenting extends as far as the village and even further. Older siblings often care for younger ones, but compulsory education has made this practice less common.

Tongans are proud of their almost 100 percent level of literacy. Government high schools limit enrollment by using a competitive examination and charging fees. Those who are not admitted can attend private religious high schools. There is a branch of the University of the South Pacific on Tongatapu. Sia'atoutai Theological College trains teachers. 'Atenisi University, a private institution in Nuku'alofa, offers degrees in the humanities.

Adoption is common. An older couple whose children have left to form their own families may adopt from a younger couple with many children. A couple may decide to give a child to a relative of higher social or economic status, and many parents who work abroad leave their children with relatives. Children are present in private or public events and are almost never forbidden to look, observe, and learn.

The most important life events are celebrated with elaborate ceremonies that may last weeks in the case of weddings or funerals of royalty or nobles. These events include a complex pattern of gift exchanges; the preparation, consumption, and distribution of a large quantity of food; and speech giving. Pieces of bark cloth, mats, kava roots, and food are exchanged. Speakers use an elaborate figurative language.

Etiquette

Formal attire for men includes a tupenu (skirt) and a ta'ovala (mat) worn around one's waist and kept in place by a belt of coconut fiber. Prestigious old belts made of human hair also are used. A shirt with a tie and a jacket complete the attire. Women wear long dresses and ta'ovala as well. The softness, color, and decorations of a ta'ovala indicate status and wealth.

People shake hands when they meet, and relatives kiss by pressing each other's noses against their faces and soundly inhaling through the nose. The men preparing the 'umu or roasting for a big feast do not eat with the guests and are allowed at the table only when the first round of people has finished eating and left. Most food is eaten with the hands, although silverware also is used. It is customary to wash one's hands at the beginning and end of a meal.

The gesture of raising the eyebrows in conversation expresses one's understanding of the speaker's speech and is an invitation to continue. It is difficult for people to admit failure in understanding or to respond negatively to requests.

Religion

Religious Beliefs. Christian churches exist in even the most remote villages. Bells or log drums call people for services at the crack of dawn. After a failed attempt by Wesleyan missionaries to Christianize the islands in 1797, they and other Christian missionaries were more successful in the mid-nineteenth century. Forty-four percent of Tongans belong to the Free Wesleyan Church. Wesleyanism is also the official religion of the state and the monarchy. Among the other major churches are the Roman Catholic Church (16.3 percent), the Church of Latter Day Saints (12.3 percent), the Free Church of Tonga (11.4 percent), the Church of Tonga (7.5 percent), Seventh-Day Adventist Church (2.3 percent), and Anglican Church (0.6 percent).

Medicine and Health Care

Traditional medicine exists alongside Western medicine in the person of the faito'o (native doctor). Knowledge about medicine is passed on from parent to child. The faito'o uses mainly herbal medicines. No payment is required for treatment, but gifts are given at the beginning or end of the cure. Massage is also used. Sometimes in the outer islands traditional medicine is the only defense against a number of diseases. Although people recognize the effectiveness of Western medicine, traditional medicine is highly respected.

Secular Celebrations

Besides Constitution Day (4 November) and Emancipation Day (4 June), the major secular holiday is the king's birthday on 4 July. Nobles and chiefs from all over the kingdom present gifts to the king in a ceremony adjacent to the royal palace. The capital is adorned with festive arches covered with fragrant flowers under which floats parade. After the parade, people feast and light bonfires.

The Arts and Humanities

Graphic Arts. Women make bark cloth that can reach fifty feet in length and fifteen feet in width. The design of the carved tablets used to decorate bark cloth is traditionally purely geometrical. Naturalistic figures such as trees, flowers, and animals are also used. Women also weave mats and make flax baskets. Color, thinness, and the number of threads used determine the quality of a mat. The uniformity and consistency of the patterns reveal a weaver's skill. These activities are always conducted in groups while talking, gossiping, or singing.

Men carve wood, black coral jewelry, and objects made of turtle shell or whalebone. Seeds, shells, and fresh flowers are woven into necklaces by both sexes.

Performance Arts. Choral singing is done in churches and kava clubs. Singing is part of the more holistic traditional art of faiva , the blending of dance, music, and poetry. The punake (master poet) composes pieces that combine music, text, and body movements. Traditional dances include the Me'etu'upaki (paddle dance), the Tau'olunga (solo dance), and the Lakalaka (line dance).

Bibliography

Barrow, John. Captain Cook: Voyages of Discovery , 1993.

Benguigui, G. "The Middle Classes in Tonga." The Journal of the Polynesian Society 98(4): 451–463, 1989.

Bennardo, G. A Computational Approach to Spatial Cognition: Representing Spatial Relationships in Tongan Language and Culture , 1996.

Campbell, I. C. Island Kingdom: Tongan Ancient and Modern , 1992.

Ferdon, E. N. Early Tonga: As the Explorers Saw It 1616– 1810 , 1987.

Gailey, C. W. Kinship to Kinship: Gender Hierarchy and State Formation in the Tongan Islands , 1987.

Gifford, E. W. Tongan Myths and Tales , 1924.

——. Tongan Society , 1929.

Hoponoa, Leonaitasi. The Aesthetic of Haka as a Component of the "Art" of Faiva: Differences between Referential and Non-Referential Constructions , 1996.

James, K. "Gender Relations in Tonga 1780 to 1984." The Journal of the Polynesian Society 92(2): 233–243, 1985.

Kaeppler, A. L. Poetry in Motion: Studies of Tongan Dance , 1993.

Kingdom of Tonga. Sixth Development Plan: 1991–1995 , 1999.

Kirch, P. V. "A Brief History of Lapita Archaeology." In P. V. Kirch and T. L. Hunt, eds. Archaeology of the Lapita Cultural Complex: A Critical Review , 1988.

Latukefu, S. Church and State in Tonga , 1974.

Law of Tonga, The , rev. ed., 1985.

Morton, Helen. Becoming Tongan: An Ethnography of Childhood , 1996.

Pawley, A. "Austronesian Languages." In Encyclopedia Britannica , 13th ed., 1974.

van der Grijp, Paul. Islanders of the South: Production, Kinship, and Ideology in the Polynesian Kingdom of Tonga , 1993.

Whistler, W. Arthur. Tongan Herbal Medicine , 1992.

Wood-Ellem, Elizabeth. Queen Salote of Tonga: The Story of an Era 1900–1965 , 1999.

Web Sites

"Tonga on the Net." http://www.tongatapu.net.to/

"Tonga Online." http://www.tongaonline.com/

"UN System-Wide Earthwatch Web Site: Island Directory—Tonga." http://www.unep.ch/islands/CKY.htm

—G IOVANNI B ENNARDO



Also read article about Tonga from Wikipedia

User Contributions:

1
Done Boy
I love the tongan culture and its ways of life. Tongans are mostly open about feelings of othe human beings. They tend to feel a compassion for writing .That's why we tongans have that ability to write as well as we do.
The information that i've recieved from this article is very useful for my projects but if only you can get more detailed informations.

Thank you for the publishing of informations.
Hi. I am baby tay i'm doing this project on pacific islands and i picked Tonga i really like this article.
i am doing a project on this stuff right now so thanks for the info
sweet. I'm glad I found this
I'm doing a project on Tonga and this helped a bunch~!
I'll be sure to use this again sometime C:
i agree with fifita tupou i like the article but i think if it was more detailed it would of had been better. :)
I would like to thank for all these great comments on my beautiful islands. Tonga is a very great island that was founded by our great leader Captain Cook. A name that Captain cook gave to the people was the friendly islands. And a gift was given to the island, a turtle that has passed but was still alive since 2007.
THIS IS GOOD READING IF YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT CULTURE
I love that this article is accurate even if a few years behind. Good work! It's the most accurate article I've read on the internet in a long time.
Great article & love it, so helpful and useful for my projects.
Thx for the informations.
Good work!!!. :)
can some one help me figure out what maori and tongans diffrentses are . well tongan beliefs , values and behaviors . i cant figure this out on my own , and the infomation provided is great .

thanks .
Thanks for these info! This website is really helpful. I'm doing this project and this helps a lot. Thanks!
13
random
awsome.i'm using this for my project.
thanks a ton!!
I lived in Tonga for almost 5 years and absolutely loved it. It is the most beautiful country and the people are amazing. I am married to a Tongan and so happy that we went back and had our children there. Unfortunately we had to return to the states because my father was ill. But hope to some day return to this beautiful island paradise. Keep your culture strong Tonga until we meet again.This article was fantastic by the way!!!
really helpfull now finished project maybe you can put a little more on singing and dancing but otherwise awsome
thank for the great information you've showed me:)
thank you i can use this for my assignment :) this is awesome
18
Tweeny
Very helpful information when it comes to rearching on other Pacfic islands...Please keep this page up to date. thank you
im tongan and i had to cut my hair because in a tongan tradition tongans cut there hair short when there father or grand father died.
I'm writing a creation myth based on the Tongan culture :) Thanks so much for putting this up here!!! I've learned so much about my culture that I never knew. This is an awsome page :D
THIS WAS AWSOME FEELS GREAT TO KNOW MORE BOUT YOUR CULTURE, KEEP IT COMIN :)
22
Vivili
Thanks for the hard work, please send more as it is of very important for our next generation to be kept informed. Great to see other nationals as well study our culture. Keep up the good work, well done!!
23
HaleyPage
THis is really amazing it helped a lot im tongan:)
24
Champagne
This is really helpfull on projects and very helpfull information about different places.
25
lijha
quick question peeps i have Tongan neighbors who has recently lost a reletive and i wanted to bring tem something to show my condolences but i really would like to come culturally correct any help would be appreciated
26
lijha
quick question peeps i have Tongan neighbors who has recently lost a reletive and i wanted to bring tem something to show my condolences but i really would like to come culturally correct any help would be appreciated
27
lijha
quick question peeps i have Tongan neighbors who has recently lost a reletive and i wanted to bring tem something to show my condolences but i really would like to come culturally correct any help would be appreciated
28
lijha
quick question peeps i have Tongan neighbors who has recently lost a reletive and i wanted to bring tem something to show my condolences but i really would like to come culturally correct any help would be appreciated
29
Anzey
i am really proud to be a pure blooded tongan not only that but also i really love the food for example lu sipi, otai, ota and many other things but the best would have to be puaka the nicest thing there is
30
Kaneisoni Fa
HELLO AND MALO E LELEI,

My name is Kaneisoni Fa and I'm live in Tonga, a pure Tonga. This is my first time to join in this page. I love this article and its help me a lot to find out more about THE DEVELOPING ACTIVITIES FOR WOMEN, YOUTH, CULTURE AND COMMUNITIES. I have to attend a short training from the SPC Community Development Training Program For the Pacific next year, and this article so helpful for my research essay. Even I live here in Tonga since I was born but only a few things I knowing well about my culture and traditional. I hope you all enjoin this and thank you for supporting Tonga Island.
31
siosiana
i think that this page has helped me understand a bit more about tonga and it's culture. thank you
32
Kea Thaoa
I'm a student from the University of Goroka, in Papua New Guinea. Can any one help me with Tongan's migration route and a particular culture which is still existing today.
33
Ianna Thessnan
Thank you for the information it was very helpful! I am doing a prject on this and this artical saved my butt! Thanks a bunch!
34
Anonymous
thanks for this article! i had a project as well and this was really handy
35
eikimounga polaapau
A big malo e lelei is going to everybody...i am an origin tongan girl and i'm grateful for the information provide in this webpage because i able to collect information for my research project...
36
Bobbina Palwey
could someone please tell me what the Tongan beliefs are on hair cutting?
37
Falekofe Manoa
Dear fellow publisher it's great knowing more about Tonga and am really grateful about this article thank you so much
38
jorga
dear fellow publisher i would like to thank you for your tongan information it has helped me with my powerpoint
39
live
the question reamins. How can we conserve or maintain the Tongan culture?
40
Te Rangi Mataitonga
Thanks for the information. It was really interesting to learn from my culture. I just
found out i was Tongan and i really wanted to learn more of it! I was born in New Zealand
and never learned much about my family in Tonga. All i know is that my great grandmother
Melenaite Mataitonga grew up in a place called Lomaiviti.
41
Nau
Omg thanks for the information, im doing a project right now and all these information really helps so thanks TONGA ;)
42
sesiline
im so grateful of that information because im doing now my research and its useful so thank for the information.
43
ongo
this information really help me alot with my speech at school. Thank you
44
foki
This information helped me a lot in knowing more about the Tongan culture..thank you
45
speech girl
i had to do a speech and i only had to use this website. Thanks heaps.
46
mendoza
what type of species do thy have and what are that?
47
Michaela
I've just visited Tonga for the first time and just loved it! I've been interested in Tonga for years now and I'm always excited to find out new information on it. Malo aupito for putting this article together, it was really interesting. Tonga will always be my favourite pacific island!!! I'm so glad God allowed me to visit!!
48
Wolfang Amaedous Mozart
Hi was just going to play a song about he culture of Tonga this helped a lot.
49
Aaliyah
What is the parenting styles in tonga? and how they take care of there kids? i am doing a school project on cultures in new zealand and it will be a big help if somebody that knows how their children are taught and taken care of :)
50
Isileli
G'day. Im an Aussie Tongan guy. I loved this piece of information. Very informative and just an alround great read! God bless yall!
51
fotu
this is a good project cause i got informations from this project
52
line
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THESE USEFUL INFORMATION IT HAS BEEN SO HELPFUL DOING MY RESEARCH PROJECT.
53
filla aso
thank you so much for these i use this information for my english,tongan, history assignment this is so lovely thank so much love you all
54
vaisioa
thank you so much for these info since i'm working on a project about Tonga.
55
Ray
I'm so thankful for this info it's help me to know more about Tongan since Im working for a project research abt Tonga...
56
Edgar
I am having my country study on the Kingdom of tonga and this really helped me on my research, thank you very much for the information that I need.
57
Lina
Hi im angiie
I am doing a project on Tonga and found very interesting information on this page thanks for the info 💞
58
Noelle
Thank you so much for this very useful article. I am thinking of going to Tonga for a long visit because I love the Tongan people and would like to learn more about their lives. I used to live in Hawaii, but would look forward to visiting a more rural pacific island with less tourism and more community. I may visit soon, I hope!
59
Kayta
I'm currently writing a book that involves a Tongan Prince as well as Tonga (of course). This information is extremely enlightening about Tonga and it's culture that I did not know before and I will definitely be using this knowledge in my book. Thank you so much for this.
60
Luke
i think Tonga is a wonderful place to see i am writing a power point about Tonga and seems to be a good country for my essay
61
Tina He-Lindsey
I've been married into the Tongan culture since 1992, i fell in love with my husband the instant i heard his accent, I'm a Hawaiian born and raised in Hawaii and after learning about the culture, the Tongan and Hawaiian culture is very similar but different to hold my attention. I love the culture, i have 3 half tongan kids, and now two grandsons ages 2 n 4. Our 5th trip to tonga will the be christmas of 2019. And its helping me with my power point project on Tonga! Malo Aupito!!
62
Eseta
This article was very informative but there was one error which states "People shake hands when they meet, and relatives kiss by pressing each other's noses against their faces and soundly inhaling through the nose." This statement isn't part of the Tongan but the Maori (New Zealand Natives) culture. Overall the article was spot on but I couldn't help but to cringe at this claim. However, you did a great job summarizing the basics of Tonga and it's culture!
63
Jessica
I'm so thankful for sharing this article, that can help me find more information to write up my Essay
64
Lose
this is very helpful but can u please give me some info about the importance of Tongan culture??
65
Fernae Morley
There is a misprint in the article under the religion section. It's not "The Church of Latter Day Saints". It should say, "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints".
66
Sharon
Tongans are undeniably the most intelligent indigenous race in the South Pacific. They take the majority
of the Pasifika academic & sporting awards every year in schools across New Zealand. Such an insightful
article, thanks!
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Paea Fakatava
Can anyone help me out with my topic, i am currently doing a research on the negative impacts of a tongan traditional feast on the people o tonga ?
68
Kaybe
Does anybody got more accurate information due to the negative impact of Tongan Traditional feast on the local Tongans???
69
Siupeli Paongo
I'm from Tonga super proud that I grown up in a very humble and wonderful belief.

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