Taumafa Kava - the royal kava circle [1]
Saturday, June 27, 2015 - 23:15. Updated on Monday, June 29, 2015 - 21:51.
Photos by Pesi Fonua, Linny Folau, Peter Poulsen and Adrienne L. Kaeppler.
King Tupou VI drank kava in the royal kava circle - the Taumafa Kava today, 27 June, confirming his title as the 24th Tu'i Kanokupolu and king of Tonga.
It was a beautiful sunny morning and not too hot for the outdoors ceremony at Mala'e Pangai Lahi on the seafront next to the Royal Palace.
The king's nobles, matapules and chiefs formed a circle around a large number of pigs, yams and hundreds of baskets of food presented by families or clans from throughout Tonga. The last presentation was brought in by the King's kainga from Holonga, Vava'u, chanting the Tau'a'alo at the start of the ceremony.
The King's daughter Princess Angelika Lātūfuipeka was one of the three ceremonial kava mixers. Carrying the king's cup of kava was Vakalepo 'Ahio, son of 'Ahio. Titles were called by the matapule as each chief received his cup of kava.