From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 14, no. 3, July 1999.

The last Heilala Festival for this century finished with the Miss Heilala Grand Ball on August 20, and the announcement of the Miss Heilala for 1999, Fonoti Taumoepeau.

Fonoti entered the contest as Miss Tonga Visitors Bureau and won return tickets to Sydney, a cash prize of $1,000 and other prizes. The first runner up was Miss Y2K, Melisa Todd, the second runner up was Miss Dateline Hotel, Tu‘imala Setefano, and the thrid runner up was Miss Teta Tours Australia, Eliza-Anne Lemoto.

The representatives of the Tongan communities from Hawai‘i, New Zealand and Australia, enriched the Miss Heilala festival bringing overseas entrants. But again the title stayed in Tonga.

Fonoti is the daughter of Semisi Taumoepeau, Tonga's Director of Tourism.

Guest traditional dancer at the festival was Miss South Pacific-Miss Samoa, Cheri Moana Robinson.

Simote Po‘uliva‘ati, the new president of the Tonga Tourist Association, was pleased with the outcome. "Our aim was for this Heilala Festival to be different from other festivals, and despite the change in the date from July to August 12-21 there were a number of visitors who came specifically for the festival."