Does Tonga, or better known as the Kingdom of Tonga, sound exotic but somehow familiar to you? Can you point out where on the map Tonga is? Tonga is a country in the Pacific Ocean. Tongan, Tonga people, spread all around the world, which might be why you have heard of them. With an exception to the island of Tonga, they mostly reside in New Zealand and Australia. There are also more than 60,000 people of the Tongan descent residing in the United States. If you are from Utah, California, or Hawaii, you probably have gone to school or work with these beautiful people. However, meeting a Tongan in the U.S. is still different from learning about their culture in their home country. Let’s get a glimpse of Tongan culture before planning a trip with Acanela.

Tongan Language

“Malo e lelei” is the greeting in Tongan. Before learning the food, religion, tradition, and anything else about Tonga, let’s learn a bit about the language and practice how to say its name right. Most Tongan letters are pronounced the way it is spelled (phonetic) so it shouldn’t be too hard to learn. The “T” is pronounced more like a “d” than a “t”, and the “g” is basically silent and pronounced with the “n” as an “ng” sound. If you are still not confident about how to speak Tongan, then Youtube is always a good platform for you to use to learn. Also, Tongan people are some of the most welcoming and kind people in the world, even if you don’t say it perfectly, they will still love you and laugh with you.

Core Values—sports, food, and family

If you have Tongan friends, you probably have noticed that they have big physiques, love eating, and have tight family relationships. Sports, especially rugby league, food, and family are the most important things for the Tongan people. For those who don’t know about Rugby, there are several different rugby forms, and the one Tongans favor the most is rugby league. Rugby league is the Tongan national sport. They have competed in Rugby League World Cup five times and made it into the finalist in 2017. You can get involved with the locals and show your love to them by wearing red and shouting out “Mate Ma’a Tonga,” meaning mighty Tonga, during rugby season.

Food is another thing that the Tongan culture does really well. On the tropical island of Tonga, coconut, banana, taro leaves, and pigs are something you won’t miss. Also, their beautiful ocean is something you want to check out. Knowing how to utilize their resources, most Tongan dishes have at least one of the materials listed above. The crispy Roasted pig is a personal favorite. I can never resist its ambrosial smell and juicy meat. Lu pulu, mostly called Lu, is also what I must taste all the time whenever I visit a Tongan family. The fragrant taro leaves combined with the briny corned beef blended with onion is just brilliant. Tongans know how to eat and eat a ton, but eating is not merely to satisfy the hunger and quench the thirst. Eating is a way to bring friends and family closer. Therefore, if locals treat you to dishes you are not used to, you should still give it a try and accept their hospitality.

The value of family is always high in the heart of the Tongan people. Most of my Tongan or other islander friends, usually behave better in regards to their family names. Although many of them are playful, they all want to honor their family by being good examples of others. In Tongan society, the elderly and women are especially respected. Women are the host of the family and they participate in many professional businesses and contribute to the family greatly. However, they may seem to be aloof due to the high expectation from society.

Religion and Tradition

Tonga is an extremely religious country. Christianity is the dominant religion there. Around 64 percent of the population are protestants, 17 percent of them are members of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and Roman Catholics consist of 15 percent of the population. There are also a growing number of Buddhists, but the number of Muslims is declining. The prevalence of religion in Tonga has something to do with their history, but it has a lot more to do with their humble hearts. They are comfortable to be around, and they are kind and lovely.

People may wonder if the numbers of Christians indicate westernization and fading of local tradition. Western influence in Tonga cannot be denied, but local tradition is preserved well at the same time. Tongan community is still village-based and people still practice traditional art craft, dance, music, and even cooking styles. There is still a lot for you to experience and learn.

The differences and unfamiliarity may seem intimidating, but don’t miss this great opportunity to learn about the people on the other side of the world. Travel with Acanela will make your trip easy and let you have the best cultural experience in Tonga.   

Post written by Jack Chiu