PONGIPONGI TAPU
Pongipongi tapu, in the early sacred twilight morning, in the mist of tapu and new era, the tapu is enforced and the sacrilege kava plant is pounded, presentation of cooked tusk pigs, food packed in small green baskets, and the seatings of the chiefs, matapule and King of Tonga. Officially, the pongipongi tapu, pongipongi hingoa and pongipongi tuku are all performed in King George Tupou V first kava ceremony.

King George Tupou V will officiate at his first kava ceremony as Tu’I Kanoupolu, Tu’I Ha’atakalaua and Tu’I Tonga all three dynasties are united under one King, King George Tupou V.

The first kava cup will be called from the middle tanoa, milked, prepared and served by HRH Princess Latufuipeka, she will perform the milolua ceremony in synchronization to the left and right tanoa, served by Pita Vi and Solomone Sefesi. Prince Ata will carry the first kava cup of King George Tupou V, the King of Tonga’s first kava as the new monarchy despite the mourning period and the pending coronation, in respect of Tupou IV.

 

 The green house the King is seated in was built by people of ‘Ahau, relatives of the Tu’ikanokupolu. The baskets in the front are koloa presented by Tangikina ‘Ahome’e[nee Nuku] and Heidi Veikune [nee Tauatevalu] Seated in the fore ground is Motu’apuaka and Niukapu.


THE PONGIPONGI TAPU KAVA BOWL

 

HRH Princess Latufuipeka seated in the middle flanked by Hon. Alimatea Vaha’I [left] and HRH Prince Ata [right] 

 

 Princess Latufuipeka performed the milolua in the pongipongitapu ceremony. A ritual left to Ha’a Ngata Motu’a. The current kava ritual in practice is that of the Tu’ikanoupolu.

The kava bowl used for the kava ceremony is a centre piece of the Mailo Kava Club Houma, Tongatapu. Its usual place of rest in the kava club is in the middle of the club house and looks like a giant turtle resting [ko e fonu].

The milolua kava performance is part of the Tu’I Kanoupolu traditional kava ceremony and the highlight of the ceremony and kava ritual is the ability of the tou’a to prepare, milk, and present the kava cleanly during the speeches, malanga.

The hand motions, head motions, fakateki, the reaching of the outstretched hands around the rim of the huge kumete, keeping it moist, gathering of the kava cloth, fa’u, and thrown high and out of the kava bowl are spectacles, rarely witnessed. The le’o kava and sentries posted seated from behind ensure the ceremony is performed without possible poisoning and maintain the ceremonies order.

Three huge wooden kava bowls will be used to mix the green pounded kava plant. The three kava bowls are so enormous in size that the mixed kava required to fill them will be beyond the capacity of the empty cocoanut shells, which contains about 5 litres of water total, one kava bowl can take about 25 litres of water, three kava bowls can fetch about 75 litres, 15 gallons of mixed kava.

 

 Lauaki also known as Maliepo, the chief undertaker, seen standing on top of the fata platform when the late King Tupou IV was slow marched and shouldered to malae kula, will officiate the kava ceremony. Lauaki’s duties occurs during the period of royal mourning will the left side of the King alofi left officiate the kava ceremony, and the left side is led by Maliepo, Lauaki.

 

 

The presentation by the fonua, will be prepared all night and in the light of dawn be quietly moved to the main arena, pangai lahi. Ha’a Ngata and Ha’a Havea will maintain watch and assure the order of the presentation is correct. Throughout the ceremony all will be seated and a ritual of kava is pounded, milked and served, food allotted to high female rank, finalized by the malanga, speeches of the two main Tu’I Kanoupolu clans, Ha’a Ngata Motu’a and Ha’a Havea Lahi. Ha’a Ngata Motu’a malanga will be Hon. Fusitu’a and Ha’a Havea lahi by Baron Vaea of Houma, Ma’u Kakala will malanga on behalf of pulotu’s underworld’ gratitude.

The Pongipongi tapu will include the newly established nobilities, Tupouto’a, Ulukalala and Ata and they too become the new order of a tradition that has been with Tonga since 950 AD.

The last of the ha’amo is performed today and Lauaki and his people are carrying out the last ritual to malae kula before decamping most of the ha’a tufunga, for the tenth night concludes tomorrow. The northern island people have started to return awaiting the pongipongi tomorrow before returning to their remote islands and awaiting the new King’s visit in October 2006.

Tongan residing overseas have started to return to work with a few extending their stay in Tonga due to last minute changes. The state funeral and the tenth period homage was well coordinated and the controlled well by the Prime Minister’s and Palace Office.

The weather was kind and assisted throughout, after the burial a heavy steady rain poured down afterwards, and even the pongipongi tapu the rain held off until completion.