By Tupou Vaipulu Jr.
Kolofo’ou in Tongatapu signed a sister city partnership with East Palo Alto, at the US Embassy in Nuku’alofa today, 30 January 2026, in a first “sister city” partnership between Tonga and the United States of America.
The Chief of Mission for the US Embassy in Nuku’alofa, Devon Brown, said that this partnership will open opportunities for trade and exchange between Kolofo’ou and East Palo Alto.
The partnership started in 2022 after the HTHH volcanic eruption and tsunami where the East Palo Alto community sent five containers of aid resources for Tonga, and Kolofo'ou.
Mr. Brown said that after the Embassy opened in 2023, it became one of their goals to make the partnership formal.
The partnership agreement was signed by HRH Crown Princess Sinaitakala Tuku’aho, members of the Kolofo’ou District and members of the East Palo Alto City Council, including Mayor Webster Lincoln.
The contracts of the partnership were signed by both parties via zoom call this afternoon.
