Ha'a Ngata presents ha'amo to Princess Pilolevu [1]
Thursday, April 5, 2012 - 18:57. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.
The nobles of the Ha'a Ngata, a clan from which the Tu'i Kanokupolu descended, performed a funeral ritual known as "ha'amo" or the presentation of food baskets, to HRH Princess Pilolevu Tuita at her residence Mahinafekite this morning, April 5.
The ha'amo is a traditional presentation of food baskets made from green coconut leaves by some nobles to the royals following the state funeral of the late King George Tupou V on March 27.
Nobles under the Ha'a Ngata who were present at the ha'amo included Lord Vaha'i, Lord Ve'ehala, and Lord Tangipa. The ha'amo continued in the afternoon with a presentation to the Nima Tapu, the royal undertakers, at Mapu 'a Fuiva residence.
The Ha'a Ngata is understood to have presented their first ha'amo to King Tupou VI this morning, at Liukava residence in Kolovai.
Suka 'Otukolo, the Deputy Secretary at the Palace Office said the ha'amo began on Monday April 2 and wouuld be held for ten days, ending next week.
The ha'amo is held daily by various clans consisting of nobles and the people of their estates, who visit various royal residences, including Tufumahina, Villa, Mahinafekite and Mapu 'a Fuiva.