Results for Tongans Overseas

A Tongan-American man in Utah, Nitokalisi Fonua (33) has pleaded guilty to the killing of a Tongan national Viliami Latu (34) in 2007 and to the killing of a young woman Krystal Flores (21) in 2009, both in Salt Lake City. According to Utah media reports Nitokalisi pleaded guilty to manslaughter although the charges against him are two counts of first-degree murder. He is due to be sentenced on April 18 by a Salt Lake City court.

A prominent Tongan-Australian performer and climate change activist, Latai Taumoepeau, is raising awareness of climate change in her latest fringe theatre performance “Disaffected”. Latai along with fellow performers Valerie Berry and Ryuichi Fujimura, reveal the impacts of climate change through body language and abstract display. "The work is a powerful and evocative performance but more than that, it is a call to arms," stated the Sydney Arts Guide.

Encouraging overseas born Tongan youth to spend some time in Tonga and to attend schools in Tonga, through a properly structured program, could help to foster stronger connections with second and third generation offspring of migrants, a new report recommends. But the report also reveals that for students having little or no preparation for a change of lifestyle, settling in to high school is very challenging and can even be dangerous.

The State of Hawai’i has proclaimed November 21 as “Kemoeatu Brothers Day” in recognition of Hawaiian-raised Tongan brothers, Chris and Ma’ake Kemoeatu.

The Consulate General of the Kingdom of Tonga in has moved from the City of San Francisco to Burlingame in the Bay area, providing consular services to many of the 57,183 Tongans living in the United States.

An internship in the Office of the First Lady at the White House has inspired Milika Hopoi, a Tongan, to seek a future in the USA diplomatic service.

Queensland’s Tongan Community has raised $13,000 (AUD) to aid cyclone relief in Ha‘apai.

Tongans in Melbourne have donated $7,150 pa’anga to Tonga’s Red Cross to assist with the ongoing relief efforts in Ha'apai following Tropical Cyclone Ian.

The wedding of Hon. Frederica Lupe’uluiva Fatafehi ‘o Lapaha Tuita and Sione Mateialona Filipe was held at the Anglican Holy Trinity Cathedral, Parnell, Auckland on Saturday, August 10. Photos courtesy Monalisa Palu Fineanganofo.