Friendly Island Experience Tonga Information for Visitors

Tonga consists of 176 islands ranging from high volcanic to low coral terrain create scenic variety seldom matched elsewhere in the world. The islands are divided into four groups and bordered on the east by the deep Tongan Trench.

Nuku'alofa, the capital, is located on the main island of Tongatapu. It is more developed than its neighbors but still maintains an unhurried and peaceful lifestyle.

Further south from the equator than islands such as Samoa, Tonga has a cooler and more comfortable climate. It receives less rain than other tropical areas, and maximum temperatures average 80oF with only moderate humidity. The rainy season lasts from December to April when temperatures and humidity are higher (most extreme from January to March). The greatest number of thunderstorms occur in December and February. Annual rainfall at Nuku'alofa averages 58 inches, with as much as ten inches falling in April and as little as one inch in May and July. Vava'u is the wettest group. In contrast, during the Tongan winter (June to August), temperatures can occasionally be quite cool.

Tonga's GNP is approximately T$35 million but up from prior years. (Incomes average US$4,000 per year.) All land is property of the monarchy, nobles administer and allot it to the common people. No foreigner can own land, although with approval from the cabinet, anyone can lease property for up to 50 years. Many foreigners have taken advantage of this opportunity, and small foreign-owned businesses such as guesthouses, restaurants, and small resorts are prevalent throughout the kingdom.

Most government and light industries are concentrated in Nuku'alofa. More than 25% of the country's population lives in the capital, with hundreds commuting from outlying areas. Half the population is involved in the cash economy, the rest live from subsistence agriculture, fishing, and collecting. Most Tongans grow their own food, build their own homes, and make their own woven handcrafts and various household products (such as tapa, handbags, baskets, place mats, and brooms). So much in Tonga is made by hand that the aggregate value of all these goods exceeds the total of all goods sold for cash. Food staples are yams, taro, manioc, and sweet potatoes. In many villages, humans are outnumbered by domestic pigs, which range freely across the islands. The biggest cash crop is pumpkin squash. Introduced to the islands in 1987, it has become Tonga's biggest export (shipped primarily to Japan). Tongan pumpkins supply about half of Japan's requirements. During the harvest season in October and November, commercial vessels flow steadily in and out of Queen Salote Wharf.

Tonga is peopled with large families and a burgeoning young population. Though it is one of the most densely populated countries in the Pacific, population figures remain stable due largely to emigration. Thousands of Tongans have left (many permanently) to provide support to their families, 24,000 reside in New Zealand, 10,500 in the U.S., and 4,500 in Australia. Money remitted by Tongans living abroad is the country's primary source of income. With so many Tongans expatriated, flights into and out of the country during the holidays are normally sold out many months in advance.

In all, Tonga is comprised of 176 coral and volcanic islands, thirty-six of which are inhabited. The country is divided into four distinct parts, each scenically diverse. The Tongatapu group is the most populated and farthest south. It is Tonga's cultural centre and home to the capital, Nuku'alofa.

The central Ha'apai group lies approximately 80nm north, an archipelago of low coral islands surrounding soaring volcanoes. Ha'apai is a diver and fisherman's dream. Continuing 80nm north is the Vava'u group, considered to be Tonga's sailing centre. It is a beautiful cluster of waterways and pristine, sparsely inhabited islets at the centre lies an immense landlocked harbor. And in the extreme northern reaches are the Niuas, an isolated trio of volcanic islands 320nm from Tongatapu where traditional Tongan customs and culture still thrive.

Tonga is located on the eastern edge of the Indo-Australian Plate, which is forced up by the Pacific Plate pushing under it at the Tonga Trench. This long oceanic valley extends north-south and reaches depths over 5.5nm. Tonga lies on a volcanic ridge known as the Pacific Ring of Fire, the ridge extends from New Zealand to Samoa, then back toward Vanuatu and the Solomons. Where Tongatapu, Ha'apai and Vava'u lie, towering volcanoes once dominated the landscape. As they sank into the sea, coral polyps gradually built the islands existing today.

More than its natural history or its socio-economics, Tonga is about its people and its traditional culture. Tongans are welcoming, relaxed, and generally happy. Minor things like delays or noise tend not to cause any stress. Tongans enjoy the beach, collecting from the sea, singing, and dancing. Any occasion, big or small, can become a good reason for getting together to celebrate with friends and family.

In Tongan life, the family is of utmost importance. Each family member plays a role, with older persons commanding the most respect. Women benefit from a higher social status than in other parts of Polynesia as tradition gives them certain authority over male family members. Public life, however, is still dominated by men. The eldest sister acts as the family matriarch and oversees her siblings, nieces, and nephews. Children may reside with grandparents, aunts, or uncles as often as with their parents&emdash;with multiple authority figures in their lives, most children refer to their elders by first names. Every family member helps out in the care and discipline of younger children. Tongans hold first and twenty-first birthdays, marriages, and funerals in the highest regard.

Religion closely follows the family in importance, and almost all Tongans are churchgoers. This staunchly Christian nation honours Sundays across every island group&emdash;the Sabbath is declared forever sacred in the Tongan Constitution. Almost everything (except bakeries, a few restaurants, and resorts) is closed. No sporting events take place, it is unlawful to work or trade, and most tours do not operate. Contracts signed on a Sunday are void. It is inadvisable to create any disturbance, operate noisy equipment, or be loud on Sundays.