Kolonga

Last updated

Kolonga is a village and the most populated settlement located on the northeast coast of Tongatapu in the Hahake District, Kingdom of Tonga. Kolonga is a hereditary estate of Lord Nuku.

Contents

The current population of Kolonga was recorded in the Tonga 2006 Census as 1,199. [1] Many people have left to go overseas for better opportunities. Many lands have been deserted or they leave it to the care of their relatives, sending money support back home. The majority of the residents owned two lands: one in town where they reside and one agricultural land in the bush.

Nearly 99% of the population are agricultural farmers, out of that population only 60% own some level of qualification to a degree. Only a few have government jobs, while the rest make money out of their farming supplies at Nuku'alofa, the capital city of Tonga.

History

The name Kolonga did not exist till later on, there were two names that were known; Ualako (old residence home of Lord Nuku) and the name Mesimasi.

Estate history

Kolonga village has always been the home and land of Lord Nuku and his people since the installation of Ngata, Tu'i Kanokupolu. In 1875, when King Tupou I declared the Tongan Constitution, Lord Nuku was elevated from being an ancient chiefly titleholder to established hereditary noble.

The title, Nuku, has always been passed from the oldest brother to the youngest, not from father to son. Before King Tupou I left for war to Fiji, he entrusted, Lord Nuku Momoiangaha, to be the King’s Guard at the Royal Palace. When he returned, he was very upset to hear that Moimoiangaha had granted permission for a catholic church in his land. Therefore the title was stripped off.

The title landed among the children of Finauvalevale Finefeuiaki, the youngest brother. His son, Fatanitavake Finefeuiaki, was called to the title but he refused. He along with his sister, Tu’inavu Finefeuiaki, journeyed with Prince Henele Ma'afu 'o Tu'i Tonga to Lau Islands, Fiji. Than the title was bestowed to his brother, Lord Nuku Nehasi Finefeuiaki, since then the title went from father to son.

Lord Nuku Nehasi Finefeuiaki died leaving no male heir. Than the title went to his brother, Lord Nuku Sosaia Finefeuiaki and his son, Lord Nuku Pulu Finefeuiaki. After he died, the title returned to the descendant of Lord Nuku Nehasi Finefeuiaki. Not long after the matter was taken to court. The investigation revealed, Lord Nuku Makoni Kailahi, was a descendant through the female line in three generations. The Tongan Constitution ruled him out and the title reverted to the descendants of Lord Nuku Sosaia Finefeuiaki.

There was also a dispute over the title during the time of Lord Nuku Penisimani Katavake Naufahu Finefeuiaki. Sione Vao (Illegitimate descendant of Fatanitavake Finefeuiaki) and his relatives arrive from Fiji to claim the title. The Tongan Constitution already ruled them out, due to his ancestor, Fatanitavake, signed away his birthright.

Origin of the name

One historical interpretation is that Kolonga was, at one time, a collection of huts. Kolonga got its name during the battle between the people from the Hahake and Hihifo District of Tongatapu during the Tu'i Tonga Empire. As the Hihifo people were winning the battle, the Hahake people retreated and escaped to the middle of the Hahake District. The Hihifo District people found the large hut, the people hiding in it and they burnt the hut down. As the people were crying, a Chief’s Representative (Talking Chief) Nifofa was coming from Nautoka and he asked a person, “What is that sound coming from?” the person answered, “Koe kolo ‘oku nga, ‘uhinga koe kolo ‘oku tangi”, translating “The town is weeping meaning the town is crying”. Once the large hut was burned down, the battle was over and everyone return to the villages where they came from. Therefore, the village was named Kolonga.

It is also said; the name Kolonga also had its origin from the Kanokupolu village, Hihifo District of Tongatapu and the Three Heads (‘Ulutolu). When Ngata was first crowned Tu’i Kanokupolu by the rebel people, he sat on the sia beneath the koka tree in the middle and both Niukapu and Nuku sat on the ground known as Kolonga.

Other names for Kolonga

The metaphoric reference to Kolonga is Lotopoha, Sialehaevala and 'Utulongoa'a.

Sialehaevale (gardenia; torn clothes), originated when Tu'i Tonga Fefine arrived in Kolonga and climbed up the gardenia tree. As she climbed up the tree to pick a flower, her clothes torn apart, this gave rise to the name.

'Utulongoa'a (shore/cliff; noisy) Kolonga was that loud and noisy during the night, the Tu'i Tonga Fefine couldn’t sleep. She grew tired of the noise that it turned out, the sound of the waves keep on crashing against the cliffs. This is another possible reason, the capital Heketa was moved to Mu'a by Tu'i Tonga at a later date.

Tongan proverb

The word Kolonga features in the Tongan proverb, Ala-i-sia-ala-i-Kolonga (Mahina 2004), [2] translated as, skillful at the mound, skillful at the hut. This indigenous proverb derived its meaning from the pigeon trappers’ practice of heu lupe, the snaring of pigeons. The mound on which the pigeons were trapped was called sia, and the temporary huts where the men resided and stored the captured pigeons were called kolonga. The proverb in vernacular language would be written as, Ala 'i sia, ala 'i kolonga. The meaning thus paid tribute to the trapper who was not merely skillful in snaring pigeons, but also skillful at storing and preserving the birds. The proverb referred to individuals who possessed the ability to successfully function in multiple contexts, a trait held in high regard by early Tongans. Relevant to the village characteristic of Kolonga and present day descendants, the proverb captured an element of wisdom known to the early Tongans. That is, humans have greater success at surviving if they are adaptable, skillful and functional in more than one environment. [3] [4]

Commercial area

Kolonga has small numbers of shops and sometimes special events occur at Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga or the LDS Church. Kolonga features the following landmarks:

Transport

According to Tonga 2006 Census, the most common way of getting to work at Nuku'alofa and back, was by car (87%) and public transport (13%).

Schools

There's one private college known as Mo'unga'olive College, is run and owned by the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga. And one government school known as Kolonga Government Public School (GPS).

Churches

There are seven distinctive churches in Kolonga;

Lord Nuku and his descendant

Lord Nuku's bloodline had descended into more than twenty traditional chiefly titleholders, eventually reaching to Tu'i Tonga Laufilitonga, Tu'i Pelehake Filiaipulotu, Tui Lau and Tui Nayau of Fiji and the House of Tupou.

Royals

Lords

Notable people of Kolonga Ancestry

Related Research Articles

In Tongan mythology, or oral history, ʻAhoʻeitu is a son of the god ʻEitumātupuʻa and a mortal woman, ʻIlaheva Vaʻepopua. He became the first king of the Tuʻi Tonga dynasty in the early 10th century, dethroning the previous one with the same name but originating from the uanga (maggots) instead of divine; see Kohai, Koau, mo Momo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV</span> King of Tonga from 1965 to 2006

Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV was the King of Tonga, from the death of his mother, Queen Sālote Tupou III, in 1965 until his own death in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Tupou II</span> King of Tonga from 1893 to 1918

George Tupou II was the King of Tonga from 18 February 1893 until his death. He was officially crowned at Nukuʻalofa, on 17 March 1893. He was also the 20th Tuʻi Kanokupolu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Tupou I</span> King of Tonga from 1845 to 1893

George Tupou I, originally known as Tāufaʻāhau I, was the first king of modern Tonga. He adopted the name Siaosi, the Tongan equivalent of George, after King George III of the United Kingdom, when he was baptized in 1831. His nickname was Lopa-ukamea, meaning iron cable.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Tupou V</span> King of Tonga from 2006 to 2012

George Tupou V was the King of Tonga from the death of his father Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV in 2006 until his own death six years later.

The Tuʻi Tonga is a line of Tongan kings, which originated in the tenth century with the mythical ʻAhoʻeitu, and withdrew from political power in the fifteenth century by yielding to the Tuʻi Haʻatakalaua. The title ended with the death of the last Tuʻi Tonga, Sanualio Fatafehi Laufilitonga, in 1865, who bequeathed the ancient title and its mana to his nephew, Fatafehi Tu'i Pelehake, who was the Tu'i Faleua, or Lord of the Second House. Tu'i Pelehake surrendered the title and its privileges to his father-in-law, King George Tupou I, who united its power and prestige with that of the Tu'i Kanokupolu, Tu'i Vava'u, and Tu'i Ha'apai titles to establish the modern-day institution of the Tongan Crown. Though the title is no longer conferred, the ancient line remains unbroken and is represented by the noble title of Kalaniuvalu.

The order of succession to the throne of Tonga is laid down in the 1875 constitution. The crown descends according to male-preference cognatic primogeniture. Only legitimate descendants through legitimate line of King George Tupou I's son and grandson, Crown Prince Tēvita ʻUnga and Prince ʻUelingatoni Ngū, are entitled to succeed. A person loses their right of succession and deprives their descendants of their right of succession if he or she marries without the monarch's permission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Viliami Tungī Mailefihi</span> Prince Consort of Tonga

Viliami Tungī Mailefihi was a Tongan high chieftain and Prince Consort of Queen Sālote Tupou III. He served as Prime Minister of Tonga from 1923 until his death in 1941.

The Tuʻipelehake is the second highest ranking chiefly title in Tonga. In the absence of the ancient Tuʻi Faleua title, the Tuʻipelehake title is second in rank after the King's title, Tuʻi Kanokupolu. There have been several holders of the title mainly from the ruling royal family, from princes to prime ministers. It is Tongan custom to refer to the holder by his customary title, only adding his given name if confusion may arise. For example, Tuʻi Pelehake (ʻUluvalu).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baron Vaea</span> Tonga statesman (1921–2009)

Siaosi ʻAlipate Halakilangi Tau’alupeoko Vaea Tupou, more commonly known as Baron Vaea, was a Tongan politician who served as Prime Minister of Tonga. Vaea was a nephew of Queen Sālote, who ruled Tonga from 1918 until 1965, and a member of the Tongan nobility. His career in the Tongan government spanned 54 years.

The Battle of Velata was fought at Tau'akipulu, Haʻapai, Tonga in September 1826, between Laufilitonga, monarch of the Tuʻi Tonga dynasty, and Taufa'ahau, heir apparent to the Tu'i Kanokupolu dynasty and then monarch of Tonga.

Aleamotuʻa was the 18th Tu'i Kanokupolu of Tonga, the third lineage of Tongan Kings with the political and military power who ruled in support of the Tu'i Tonga.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sioeli Nau</span>

Sioeli Nau also known as Joel Nau was a Tongan Methodist minister. He was the son of Lu'isa Ma'ukakalafo'ou Lauaki and Filipe 'Onevela. He was also the grandson of Matapule Lauaki the Nima Tapu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ʻElisiva Fusipala Vahaʻi</span>

Princess 'Elisiva Fusipala Tauki'onetuku Tuku'aho Vaha'i of Tonga, normally referred to as Princess Fusipala or even just Fusipala, was a daughter of Fatafehi Tuʻipelehake. Fusipala was one of the Tuʻi Pelehake's six children, four of whom were girls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siosaʻia Maʻulupekotofa Tuita</span> Tongan Noble and government minister

Siosa'ia Ma'ulupekotofa Tuita is a Tongan royal and diplomat. He is the current Chief Tuita, Lord Tuita.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Halaevalu Mataʻaho ʻAhomeʻe</span> Queen Mother of Tonga

Halaevalu Mata'aho ʻAhomeʻe was Queen of Tonga from 1965 to 2006, as the wife of King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV. She was the mother of King George Tupou V and the current King of Tonga, Tupou VI.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salote Mafileʻo Pilolevu Tuita</span> Princess Royal of Tonga

Princess Royal Salote Mafile'o Pilolevu, The Honourable Lady Tuita is a Tongan princess and member of the Tongan Royal Family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tēvita ʻUnga</span> Crown Prince of Tonga

Tēvita ʻUnga was the first Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Tonga.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fatafehi 'Alaivahamama'o Tuku'aho</span> Prince of Tonga, Lord Maatu

Prince Fatafehi Alaivahamamao Tuku'aho, styled Lord Ma'atu was a Tongan Prince and member of the Tongan Royal Family.

References

  1. ↑ Tonga Department of Statistics. 2006. Tonga 2006 Census. Population Distribution By Division, District, Village By Population Change, Tonga: 1996 and 2006.
  2. ↑ Mahina, 'O. 2004. Reed Book of Tongan Proverbs: Ko E Tohi 'A E Reed Ki He Lea Tonga Heliaki. United Kingdom: Reed.
  3. ↑ Malimali, S. 2005. Trochus Resources: A New Fishery in Tonga? In Pacific Voices: Equity and Sustainable Development in Pacific Island Fisheries, edited by I. Novakzec, J. Mitchell, and J. Veitayaki. Suva, Fiji: Institute of Pacific Studies, The University of the South Pacific, pp. 137–152. (See Section: 'Kolonga Village and Its Fisheries,' pp. 142–152).
  4. ↑ Ruhen, O. 1963. Minerva Reef. Auckland, New Zealand: Minerva Bookshop Limited.
  5. ↑ See The Affinal Politics of the Twentieth Century, http://epress.anu.edu.au/austronesians/origins/html/ch12s04.html. Retrieved 2013-3-4
  6. ↑ See Radio New Zealand International, http://www.rnzi.com/newflagsflying/fiji-int.php. Retrieved 2013-3-6
  7. ↑ See UK Telegraph, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1459701/Ratu-Sir-Kamisese-Mara.html. Retrieved 2013-3-6
  8. ↑ See Commonwealth of Australia, http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2004/fa053_04.html
  9. ↑ "Fijian president sworn in for three more years" (See Australia Network News, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-13/an-fiji-president-sworn-in-again/4368648). Retrieved 2013-3-8
  10. ↑ Sevele, F. V. 1973. Regional Inequalities in Socio-Economic Development in Tonga. Unpublished PhD Thesis in Geography, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. Retrieved 2013-8-2
  11. ↑ Sevele, F. V. and Petelo, H. 1989. Agricultural Export Marketing Institutions in Tonga: An Assessment of the Role and Consequences of Government Involvement. Honolulu, Hawai'i: East-West Center. Retrieved 2012-12-14
  12. ↑ Women's Basketball (see All Sports, http://iuhoosiers.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=2805#). Retrieved 2016-3-1
  13. ↑ Ka'ili, T. O. 2008. Creating Beauty Through the Art of Socio-Spatial Ties. Unpublished PhD Thesis in Anthropology, University of Washington, Seattle, United States of America.
  14. ↑ Ka'ili, T. O. 2005. Tauhi Va: Nurturing Tongan Sociospatial Ties in Maui and Beyond. The Contemporary Pacific 17 (1): 83-114. Retrieved 2012-12-14.
  15. ↑ "Court Circular" by The Independent (See https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/court-circular-1532249.html). Retrieved 2012-3-8.
  16. ↑ "Tongasat's Flawed Genius" by David Mendosa (See Mendosa, http://www.mendosa.com/tongasat.html). Retrieved 2013-3-8.
  17. ↑ "Parliamentary 'Games' Distract From Tonga's Economic Woes" by Pesi Fonua. (See http://pidp.org/pireport/2012/November/11-02-co.htm). Retrieved 2013-3-8
  18. ↑ (See Tonga Government Portal, http://www.mic.gov.to/ministrydepartment/14-govt-ministries/prime-ministers-office/2000-fakafisi-akilisi-pohiva-mei-he-lakanga-minisita-moui). Retrieved 2013-3-6
  19. ↑ (See Taimi Media Tonga, http://www.taimionline.com/articles/1110, "Pohiva Disappointed"). Retrieved 2013-3-6.
  20. ↑ Brown Pulu, T. J. 2007. Kakai Tonga 'i 'Okalani Nu'u Sila: Tongan Generations in Auckland New Zealand. Unpublished PhD Thesis in Anthropology, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand. (See external link for the digital copy of the Doctoral Thesis at The University of Waikato Research Commons: http://researchcommons.waikato.ac.nz//handle/10289/2584). Retrieved 2013-3-1
  21. ↑ Brown Pulu, T. J. 2002. Turangawaewae/Tu'ungava'e: Echoes of a Place to Stand and Belong. He Puna Korero: Journal of Maori and Pacific Development 3 (2): 14-30.
  22. ↑ 'Tongan King of Ukulele', Sione Aleki by Craig (see http://www.ukulelia.com/2009/12/tongan-king-of-ukulele-sione-aleki.html)
  23. ↑ See Rugby League Project, http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/sione-finefeuiaki/summary.html. Retrieved 2012-3-7
  24. ↑ Pulu, Seminati. 1969. Represented Tonga: Silver Medal, 100 Metre Sprint, 11.0 Seconds; Silver Medal, 200 Metre Sprint, 22.1 Seconds. Third South Pacific Games, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. (See External Link for South Pacific Games Track and Field Medalists: http://www.gbrathletics.com/ic/spg.htm). Retrieved 2013-3-6
  25. ↑ Pulu, Soakai. 1934 - 1953. Undefeated Tonga Heavyweight Boxing Championship Title.(See Ruhen 1963, p. 48). Retrieved 2013-1-1.
  26. ↑ Pulu, Sione. 1974. Represented Tonga (See Tonga at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games for Athlete/Event Description; See Also External Link: http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=2-3338-0-0-0&sID=32718). Retrieved 2013-1-2
  27. ↑ Pulu, Tony. 1970 - 1985. Heavyweight Boxer (See External Link for Athlete/Event Description: http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=22658&cat=boxer). Retrieved 2012-12-14
  28. ↑ Pulu, Viliami. 1984. Represented Tonga (See Tonga at the 1984 Summer Olympics for Athlete/Event Description; See Also External Link: ). Retrieved 2012-12-14.
  29. ↑ Howlett, Douglas Charles. 2000 - 2007. Represented New Zealand: 62 All Black International Caps. (See Doug Howlett for Current Biographical Detail). Retrieved 2012-12-14.

Coordinates: 21°08′S175°04′W / 21.133°S 175.067°W / -21.133; -175.067

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.