Tupakapakanava is a traditional ceremony that is performed at night and is held during times of Royal celebration such as the birthday or coronation of a monarch.  During the ceremony, communities from throughout Tonga stand in silence around the Royal compound and along the seashore and hold up lighted sticks made from the spathe of the coconut palm tree.  Historically, the torches remained burning from dusk until dawn ranging from 1 day to 1 week.  Today, the torches are usually used for only 1 hour in the evenings.

Prior to the arrival of Christianity in Tonga, the tupakapakanava ceremony was held to protect the King from evil spirits and from any attempts on his life and to light the royal compound as there was no electricity at that time.  Today, the ceremony is still held to ward away evil sprits during times of island and national celebration.

In the early 1980's, all of the Tongan island groups gathered for a national tupakapakanava.  This ceremony was to celebrate the maiden trip of the inter-island ferry named M.V. Olovaha.  As the ship passed the northern island groups of Vava'u and Ha'apai at night the residents gathered on the shore and lit the coconut spathes.

The last tupakapakanava to be held in Nuku'alofa was in 1998 to celebrate the 80th birthday of His Majesty King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV.  School children from across Tongatapu gathered at the shore in Nuku'alofa and held the torches in celebration.

Similar to the tupakapakanava, takipō is a traditional ceremony where coconut spathes are also burnt in the evenings.  However, takipō is performed only when a member of the Royal family dies.  The last takipō was held in September 2006 after the death of His Majesty King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV while he was lying in state in the Royal Palace in Nuku'alofa.

The next national tupakapakanava will be held during the coronation week celebrations for His Majesty King George Tupou V in late July – early August 2008.