by Linny Folau

The coronation celebrations of HM King George Tupou V continued at Pangai, Lifuka, Ha'apai on Monday, August 11 with a joyful welcome of the king by the people of Ha'apai, who emotionally referred to Tupou V as the "Tu'i Ha'apai", "King of Ha'apai".

The king arrived in his Beech 18 aircraft at the Salote Pilolevu Airport just after 10.00am, and was welcomed to Ha'apai by the Governor of Ha'apai, Noble Malupo, the Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Viliami Tangi, the Minister for Transport and Civil Aviation, Hon. Paul Karalus, and the Ha'apai Police Magistrate, Folau Lokotui.

Cheering the king's motorcade, hundreds of school children lined both sides of the road starting from the village of Koulo all the way to the Royal residence, Tau'akipulu, on the waterfront of Pangai. School children, parents and teachers chanted "Welcome home Your Majesty" while waving little Tongan flags as the king's motocade went past. A display of colourful archways lined the road.

Taumafa Kava

After arriving at Tau'akipulu to happily chanting women and children, the king rested before walking across to the Lea'aetohi ground, at about midday for the Ha'apai Taumafa Kava ceremony.

Dressed in similar white attire he wore during his Royal Installation Taumafa Kava ceremony at Pangai Lahi, Nuku'alofa with fine mats and a colourful fakaha'apai wrap, the king sat in an open-sided pavilion.

The Taumafa Kava ceremony involved the elaborate presentation of pigs and drinking of kava. The ceremony was conducted and choreographed by Motu'apuaka, the king's talking chief.

Seated in a kava circle the size of a rugby field were around 50 chiefs and matapules all dressed in white with lokeha mats and fakaha'apai wraps and responded to the ceremonial call to share kava with the king.

The mixing of the kava was carried out by Soane Patitia Lei'ataua and the first kava cup, which was the king's was taken by Hon. Makahokovalu Malupo, the eldest son of the Governor of Ha'apai noble Malupo.

The presentation of food consisted of 1,000 green baskets of 'umu kaveitau, 11 large pigs or puaka toho and kava.

After the Taumafa Kava ceremony, the first day of the celebration concluded with a traditional tupakapakanava torch lighting on the seafront later in the night.

The second day of celebration continued on Tuesday, August 12 with a military parade, followed by a feast and traditional dancing.