Malo 'e lelei.
Often referred to as the ‘Crown Jewel of the South Pacific’, Tonga is the only remaining constitutional monarchy in the region. In this picturesque small nation which Captain Cook named The Friendly Islands, religion and tradition still play an important part of everyday life. Experience the culture and a touch of royalty on the main island of Tongatapu or get away from it all to relax on the northern most islands, Vava’u, a yachtsman’s paradise.
Tonga’s 171 idyllic islands occupy a combined land mass of only 699 km2, its population of 100,000 scattered over only 36 of the islands. To the north lies a chain of atolls named the Ha’apai group, and further north still is the Vava’u group, characterized by its lush tropical landscape and limestone caves. The main island of Tongatapu in the south is home to the capital Nuku’alofa and the Royal Palace. Tonga’s landscape illustrates typical South Pacific splendor; with white sandy beaches and clear lagoons with superb snorkeling, diving and fishing, as Tonga was the first Pacific country to create maritime parks. The landscape reflects the coconut groves, pandanus palms and banana plantations that define the beauty and lifestyle of the Pacific.
Tonga is believed to have been inhabited from the 5th Century BC, therefore giving its people an ancient history. Before the arrival of European explorers, the Tongans had a well established relationship with their neighbouring islands, Fiji and Samoa. Explorers arrived in the 1600s, starting with Dutch navigators Schouten and Lemaire and followed by Tasman, Wallis, Cook and Bligh. In the 1800s, with the arrival of Western traders and missionaries, Tongan culture changed dramatically.
Tonga’s vast history has allowed it to keep a strong understanding of its past and many ancient traditions whilst moving into modern times. Like other Pacific cultures, Tonga places an emphasis on the importance of community, and especially the close and extended family. Wealth, belongings and work are all shared. The Tongan people are a mix of Melanesian and Polynesian because of its proximity between Fiji and Samoa and regular contact.
Feasting is a crucial aspect of the Tongan lifestyle, their culinary skills capable of producing dishes of pork, fish, crayfish, octopus, tropical fruits and suckling pig. These feasting celebrations can be followed by singing and lakalaka, the traditional Tongan dance.
The craftwork of Tonga is highly skilled and diverse, traditionally separated in to female and male arts. Traditional women’s arts include producing koloa, barkcloth, and mats and baskets from the leaves of the pandanus plant. Their fine weaving skills are renowned among the islands. Traditional male arts include woodcarving and canoe building. Before European contact, Tongan men carved many objects for daily use, such as food bowls, head rests (kali), war clubs and spears, and spiritual figures.
