600 pigs, 5000 baskets of food for Royal Taumafa Kava ceremony

Before dawn today, the King's matapules, who had travelled from near and far, gathered at Pangai Lahi, next to the Royal Palace in Nuku'alofa, to prepare for a spectacular traditional Taumafa Kava (Royal Kava Ceremony), and not even the rain would dampen their spirits. Starting at 7:00am, the two-hours long Royal Kava ceremony not only celebrated the King's 65th birthday but was also the 'Pongipongi Hingoa', a traditional confirmation of the new holder of the hereditary title, Lord Ma’afu.