Results for Travel

The third and the last judging event for the 2009 Miss Heilala Pageant last night, July 30, featured the sarong swimwear, contemporary island creation, talent contest and stage interview. By Linny Folau

Ten Tongan beauties took part in the 2009 Miss Heilala Pre-Pageant Interview on the morning of July 27, the first judging event.

Nine Tongan beauties have registered to compete in the 2009 Miss Heilala Pageant that began with a Pageant Orientation program this afternoon at the Heilala Village on a cool rainy day in Nuku'alofa.

The Tonga Tourism Association on behalf of the Heilala Festival Organising Committee received four new motorbikes from the Chinese Embassy on July 2. The motorbikes were handed over to the Minister of Tourism Hon Fineasi Funaki from the Tonga-China Friendship Association in a ceremony held at the Loumaile Lodge.

A six-member group of European travel agents arrived in Tonga on June 27 on and an Air Pacific agents' four-days familiarisation and educational tour of the main island Tongatapu.

"HAPPY TONGA" is the theme for Tonga's annual Heilala Festival beginning in Nuku'alofa on July 8 with a music festival, singing competition, floorshows and the Miss Heilala Beauty Pageant.

Two Air New Zealand night flights to Tonga were postponed over the weekend due to the potential hazard presented by a plume of volcanic ash and steam coming from the continuing Hunga Ha'apai eruption close to Tongatapu.

Tonga's Giant Trevally is attracting Japanese anglers to Vava'u and their activities have been filmed for Japanese television.

The discovery of over 50 ancient rock engravings, including stylised images of people and animals, at the northern end of Foa island, Ha'apai, opens up a new chapter in Tonga's history and may shed some light on its voyaging past.