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Tonga's princesses cut their hair in mourning [1]

Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Friday, September 29, 2006 - 16:30.  Updated on Tuesday, December 10, 2013 - 19:44.

Photos by Adrienne L. Kaeppler

Princess Pilolevu Tuita has her hair cut by the Maori Princess Heeni Katipa.



Princess Mele Siu'ilikutapu Kalanivalu-Fotofili.

Tonga's royal princesses and their relatives had their hair cut at the Royal Palace today in a ceremony that marks the end of the first 10 nights of mourning for the late  King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV.

HRH Princess Pilolevu Tuita, the only daughter of Tupou IV, was the first to have her hair trimmed - a service that was performed by the visiting Maori Princess Heeni Katipa.

The hair cutting to show respect at a funeral is done by those who consider themselves to be low to the deceased, and is usually performed by the fahu, or the eldest sister of the deceased. However, because Tupou IV had no sister the hair cutting of the Princesses today was performed by a foreign royal.

The daughters of Princess Pilolevu also took turns to cut the hair of other women in the family and mourners at the Royal Palace, in the ceremony takes place on the Pongipongi Tapu.

Following Princess Pilolevu in the hair cutting was Princess Mele Siu'ilikutapu, eldest daughter of Tupou IV's brother, and her sisters the Princesses Taone and 'Ofeina. The king's female grandchildren and great-grandchild also had their hair cut by Princess Heeni.

Other mourners who came forward to have their hair cut by Hon. Lupepau'u Fusitu'a and Hon. Frederica Tuita included a liongi, Palu Vava'u, a sister of Baron Vaea of Houma, and the entertainer, Joey Mataele.

Princess 'Ofeina.



Hon. Phaedra Fusitu'a.



Hon. Lupepau'u Fusitu'a.



Hon. Frederica Tuita.



The hair cut for the funeral will be kept and made into something.



Hon Lupepau'u Tuita cuts the hair of other mourners at the Royal Palace.



A Liongi, Palu Vava'u, has her hair cut by Hon Lupepau'u Tuita.



Joey Mataele has his hair cut by Hon. Lupepau'u Fusitu'a.



A mourner joins the ladies to have a hair cut by Hon. Frederica Tuita.
People [2]
Tonga [3]
Tongans [4]
Princess Pilolevu Tuita [5]
fahu [6]
Princess Heeni Katipa [7]
funerals [8]
haircutting [9]
Tonga Royal Family [10]
Royal Palace [11]
traditional ceremonies [12]
King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV [13]
Royalty & Nobility [14]

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Source URL:https://matangitonga.to/2006/09/29/tongas-princesses-cut-their-hair-mourning

Links
[1] https://matangitonga.to/2006/09/29/tongas-princesses-cut-their-hair-mourning [2] https://matangitonga.to/tag/people?page=1 [3] https://matangitonga.to/tag/tonga?page=1 [4] https://matangitonga.to/tag/tongans?page=1 [5] https://matangitonga.to/tag/princess-pilolevu-tuita?page=1 [6] https://matangitonga.to/tag/fahu?page=1 [7] https://matangitonga.to/tag/princess-heeni-katipa?page=1 [8] https://matangitonga.to/tag/funerals?page=1 [9] https://matangitonga.to/tag/haircutting?page=1 [10] https://matangitonga.to/tag/tonga-royal-family?page=1 [11] https://matangitonga.to/tag/royal-palace?page=1 [12] https://matangitonga.to/tag/traditional-ceremonies?page=1 [13] https://matangitonga.to/tag/king-taufaahau-tupou-iv?page=1 [14] https://matangitonga.to/topic/royalty-nobility-0?page=1