Results for People

It is only on very special occasions that one of the 12 apostles of the church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints visits Tonga. When the Apostle L. Tom Perry came from February 14-17, the occasion was to launch a satellite communication service, which the Church in Tonga could use for national conferences and for communication with other churches throughout the world. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 18, no. 1, March 2003.

When ‘Akosita Havili entered the first ever 'Face of Tonga' Pageant in early December, it was, “just for fun, something to do”. The 18-year-old from Ha‘ateiho said that the modeling contest helped her face up to her worst fear, which was standing in front of a large crowd. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 18, no. 1, March 2003.

One of Nuku‘alofa’s leading businessman, Robert Albin Johansson (75) died at the Greenlane Hospital, Auckland, on 20 February, after undergoing heart surgery. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 18, no. 1, March 2003.

The Nesian Mystik’s debut album ‘Polysaturated’ went double platinum in New Zealand alone, with sales of over 30,000 CDs, an achievement Tongan band member Donald McNulty attributes to the band’s teamwork and perseverance. “We’ve been together since 3rd Form—we hung around the music room all the time, just jamming”. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 18, no. 1, March 2003.

It was the highlight of Prue Jackson’s holiday in Tonga when she met Saia ‘Ahau at Crown Prince Tupouto‘a residence, The Villa, on August 21. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 3, November 2002.

Cruising the capital, Nuku‘alofa, in a mean-looking, moody and magnificent Master Eunos car, is 23-year-old Semisi Fonua, from Longolongo From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 3, November 2002.

The Tongans tradition of presenting gifts to one another is a phenomena that has enabled Tongans to maintain a way of life that is unique in the world, said Dr Mike Evans, an Associate Professor at the Department of Anthropology, University of Alberta, Canada, who visited Ha‘ano island in June. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 2, August 2002.

If you know anything about Polynesian hip-hop, you will have heard of ‘King Kapisi’. Hailing from the ‘Poly-town’ of Auckland, New Zealand, the 28 year-old Samoan who shot to hip-hop fame in 1998 with his hit track Sub-cranium Feeling, tore-up centre stage for the first time in Tonga in July. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 2, August 2002.

Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Baton Relay literally touched the hearts of dozens of Tongan school children during the two days that they carried it through the villages of the island of Tongatapu attracting thousands of excited spectators. The pulsating light that flows in rhythm with the heartbeat of each carrier was a fascination for every carrier of the baton. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 1, May 2002.