Tonga Local Customs

  Parliament Days
by Jim_Eliason
 
  • Parliament Days
      Parliament Days
    by Jim_Eliason
  • Parliament Days
      Parliament Days
    by Jim_Eliason
  • Parliament Days
      Parliament Days
    by Jim_Eliason
  • Parliament Days
      Parliament Days
    by Jim_Eliason
  • Parliament Days
      Parliament Days
    by Jim_Eliason
 
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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Sunday Plans

by nonECHO

Being a vigorously religious nation, Tongan stores and cafes promptly shut at midnight on Saturday night and (some) reopen at midnight on Sunday - most commercal outlets are not open on Sundays, as it is the holy day of rest.It is recommended that you sort out all your material needs before the Sunday arrives.There is also the option of an off-shore resort - Pangaimotu!It has a boat that travels to the island resort every half hour/quarter hour or so and takes roughly 10 minutes from the mainland. The boat on Sundays runs from approximately 10 in the morning till 6 at night - though be aware of Tongan time, relax and be patient.Meet plenty of other tourists and islanders up for a good time!Accomodation also available, Pangaimotu is also a great place for a daily adventure. Meals and drinks available - it is generally a non BYO island, everything is able to be purchased.Snorkling and...

Sundays a day to rest...

by passingshadows

Tonga is a very Christian place and every Sunday most commercial businesses are closed (shops, banks, some restaurants)...so it might be a good idea to plan on making Sundays a leisurely day and do necessary shopping and banking before then..

Traditional Dress

by easterntrekker

Many of the people in Tonga still where the heavy waist mats which are there traditional dress. The mat is called a ta‘ovala and men wear them around their waist and tie it with a kafa, a Tongan traditional string made from coconut fibre. They wear a shirt with a collar. To a funeral they wear old mats and black clothes. Women wear a dress and tunpenu with a ta‘ovala around their waist that goes down to their knees. Tongan women wear these kind of clothes to church and other occasions like parties or weddings.We noticed the school children also had a uniform fashioned from these mats.

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Tablecloths

by easterntrekker

Tablecloths are pounded out of bark until a silky smooth cloth is produced . These can be bought for hundreds of dollars but they are traditionaly given as a sort of dowery by the brides family to the husbands family. They take hours of hard and hot work to make.

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Living Dead

by easterntrekker

The gravesites in Tonga are a tribute to the deceased person's life . Its almost like they are still here on earth . We saw huge quilts strung over the graves inscribed with MOTHER. Sometimes personal articles are left at the gravesites for the deceased loved one.They are truly gone but not forgotten

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KAVA

by RJGorringe

If you have the priviledge to attend a Kava ceremony... do it with grace. Kave tastes about how like it looks, but its the Tongan way of sharing & be-friending, especially forigners. Kava is not "ill-legal". It is will definately be a memorable experience.

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Please, please... don't...

by RJGorringe

Please, please... don't complain about the way it is in Tonga. You're not going to 'Hawaii', nor to a 5-star hotel. Mosquitos, no A/C (in some cases) & humid muggy weather, no 'favorite' cafe' places, etc... So just enjoy the atmospere. Smile alot & appreciate Tonga and you'll do great.

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A Kava party is a local...

by peteyjim

A Kava party is a local tradition. You sit around in a group with a bunch of locals and drink this concoction from coconut shells. It can be pretty potent, and I discovered a different kind of hangover!

Parliament Days

by Jim_Eliason

If your lucky enough to be here at the rught time you can witness the festivites associated with the opening day of Parliament. School chioldren from across Tonga march in their school uniforms.

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Gathering shellfish

by easterntrekker

The waters around Tonga are quite shallow . The locals wade out with pails and pick shellfish off the bottom.

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Local traditions and culture in Tonga

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Questions and Answers

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Q:  Hi all, After a week in Ha'apai, we have a 1-day layover in Nuku'alofa before catching an early morning flight to New Zealand.... 

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A: I thought I might have something to add, but the above has it pretty well covered. Toni's place as basic but adequate, and the good thing is, they will wake you and get... 

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