TONGA
By: Jamie Fukofuka
The first thing people ask me when they meet me is “how do you pronounce your last name?” I say... foo-ko-foo-ka. Some get it right away and others stumble as they try. Some won't even try. Everyday I think about how much I love my last name. The only thing I love more is the man that gave me the name. My husband Solomone is from the islands of Tonga. Tonga is in the south pacific, along the west side of the International Dateline south of Figi. The British explorer Captain James Cook encountered the islands of Tonga in 1773. He was so enthralled with the people he penned the group as the “Friendly Islands.” If you have ever met anyone from Tonga then you know just how true this is.
I would like to share with you my experience with the culture and things to do in Tonga. Solomone and I were married there. I could not get over all of the beauty and intense culture. There are several islands you can visit and all of them have a different thing to offer.
The Kingdom of Tonga consists of 169 islands, only 36 of which are inhabited and spread out in an area over 270,000 square miles. It is a constitutional monarchy, King George the VI is the current ruler. English is taught as a second language and it is widely used throughout. If you ever wondered where the word taboo comes from, it is from the Tongan language. The Tongan word tapu means sacred or forbidden.
In the 1800's the British Christian Missionaries baptized the King into Christianity. Since then Christianity has been the de facto state religion. It is the law that all commercial activities are not allowed on Sundays in all of Tonga. There are a few exceptions, the hotels and restaurants located within the hotels are allowed to operate. Bread and butter is the traditional Sunday evening meal, therefore bakeries are allowed to open for business.
There are three main group of islands, Tongatapu, Ha'apai and Vava'u. Tongatapu is the main island, and where the capital Nuku'alofa is located. The main airport TBU is located on Tongatapu as well.
Tonga has a slow carefree atmosphere. I have a funny story to let you know just how carefree it is. Solomone and I decided to take a ferry from one island to another to spend a couple days sight seeing. We purchased tickets for the ferry and hotel. We were told the ferry will leave at 2:30. We got there at 2:00 just to make sure we had enough time. We waited and waited. We were looking around and we were the only ones there waiting, 2:30 came and went. Solomone asked a nearby worker if the ferry was on its way. The worker said “oh the ferry left at 12:00 today because there was funeral on the other island and they wanted to make it in time”. So we missed the ferry and had to cancel our excursion. We did not fret though. We received a refund and found something else just as fun to do.
Here are some fun things you can do and see on the islands.
Blow Holes... this is an amazing site to see. The waves crash upon a shore of rocks. Several holes are in the rocks and every few seconds geysers erupt with a high spray as if there were a whale inside. The blow holes are located on the island of Tongatapu.
Whale watching, Sailing and Underwater Caves...Humpback whales migrate from their feeding grounds in the Antarctic to the warm waters of Vava'u to mate and calf. They can be seen from the beach, from the cliffs or while you're enjoying a great meal at one of the many restaurants. There are also a few companies that offer up close whale watching tours. Many times you can also see the babies along side their mothers.
Sailing, Vava'u offers one of the most well protected harbors in the world, and it is known in the sailing world as the Port of Refuge. If you're a sailor you have many options to enjoy some of the best sailing in the world. Underwater caves, need I say more? I was not able to see these but I am adding it to my bucket list. These three attractions on the island of Vava'u.
Coral Reefs...whether you want to snorkel or scuba dive, the waters off any island are sure to please. Tonga has some of the best coral reefs in the world. The Ha'apai group consists of mostly flat coral islands and offers the best snorkeling reefs around.
Flying Foxes, yes you heard me right. Ok they may not be actual foxes that fly but they are a sight to see. These are huge fruit eating bats that live on some of the islands. They have a wing span of three feet. They are nocturnal and fly at night searching for food and hang upside down in the trees during the day. The best place to see them is on the main island of Tonagtapu in the village of Kolovai. Do you remember watching the cartoon where the bats would fly around by the hundreds at dusk? I have witnessed it and it is truly amazing.
Tapa cloths, these are a huge part of the Tongan culture. It is a mat made of a tree bark that has been pounded out by hand to have the look and feel of fabric. Once dried a dye is used to paint an intricate design. Tapa cloths are used as a gift for weddings and funerals. You can find them and several other handmade items at any of the markets on several different islands. The best thing about the shopping there is everything at the market is hand made and truly beautiful.
I could go on and on about things to do and see in Tonga. If you are looking for your next vacation getaway I highly recommend Tonga. Be sure to plan for long travel time and several hours time difference. Most convenient flights are out of Los Angeles and San Francisco to New Zealand or Fiji. Travel time is approximately 20 hours. Another thing to consider is the time change. It is already tomorrow in Tonga. So you will lose a day but you gain it back when you come home. Please consider adding this to your travel plans. I can not express enough the beauty of the islands and the friendliest of people. If you have any questions Solomone and I would be happy to answer them for you. Keep in mind Tonga is not a full fledged vacation destination so facilities will not be up to Five Star level.
I have learned so much about another culture being married to Solomone and I couldn't be happier about it. I encourage everyone to learn about other cultures and see more of the world. It opens your eyes and truly makes you a better person. Go explore.
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