Results for Vava'u

Tonga's Whale Watching Industry appears to be in a state of stagnation, particularly at the popular tourist destination of Vava'u, where experienced operators are blaming everything from ad hoc government policy on licensing to a poor domestic air service for the failure to reach expected growth.

A yacht sailing out of Vava'u motored into a strange "sea of stone" on August 12, and the following day its crew became possibly the first people to witness the birth of a new volcanic island that has been forming in Tonga.

A Tonga government policy restricting the number of whale watching boats to two boats per licensed Whale Watching operator is causing frustration among some of Tonga's pioneer whale watching operators in Vava'u, who say that the policy is unfair and restricts their growth, while allowing in amateurs. Story and photos by Pesi Fonua

When whaling was permitted in Tonga, there were not even 10 whales killed in Tongatapu for consumption in any given year. In the outer groups of Ha‘apai and Vava‘u, there were even much less. The whales were hand harpooned and whaling was done by a handful of families who were descendants of whalers who had migrated to Tonga. - ‘Ofa ki Tonga

A strong earthquake magnitude 5.7 shook Tonga this afternoon, centred 80km west of Neiafu, and felt in the capital Nuku'alofa but no damage has been reported at present.

Malo e lelei! I worked in Mailefihi/Siuilikutapu College, Neiafu, Vava'u for a year in 2000. I am always keen to keep up to date with what's going on in Tonga and your website is great for me - Malo, Lisiate Best.