Mālō e lelei! Welcome to the Friendly Islands—Tonga!

Our journey brings us to Tonga, the only kingdom in the South Pacific that was never formally colonized by a foreign power. There are around 110,000 people living here, and the capital is Nukuʻalofa, located on the main island of Tongatapu. The official languages are Tongan and English, and the nation is deeply rooted in Christian traditions and the “Anga Faka-Tonga” (the Tongan way of life).

Tonga covers about 747 square kilometers (288 square miles) of land spread across 171 islands. That’s roughly four times the size of Washington, D.C., or about the same size as the city of Hamburg, Germany. The archipelago is divided into three main groups: Tongatapu in the south, Haʻapai in the center, and Vavaʻu in the north.

The most popular sport is Rugby Union, and the national team, the ʻIkale Tahi (Sea Eagles), is legendary for its pre-game war dance, the Sipi Tau. Their national animal is the Humpback Whale, which migrates to Tongan waters every year to breed and nurse its young.

The flag consists of a red field with a white canton in the upper hoist containing a red Greek cross, where the red represents the blood of Christ, the white symbolizes purity, and the cross signifies the nation’s deep Christian faith.

The food is a tropical feast centered around fresh earth-oven cooking. You must try ʻUmu, a traditional feast cooked in an underground oven, usually featuring suckling pig, chicken, and root vegetables. Another favorite is Lu Sipi, lamb or corned beef wrapped in taro leaves with coconut cream and onions, then steamed to perfection. For a refreshing snack, try ʻOta ʻIka, raw fish marinated in citrus juice and coconut milk.

Tonga is home to the Haʻamonga ʻa Maui, a massive trilithon made of coral lime slabs often called the “Stonehenge of the Pacific.” The country features the Mapu ‘a Vaea Blowholes, where waves crash into the volcanic rock and shoot plumes of water up to 30 meters into the air. You can visit the Vavaʻu Island Group, a world-class destination for sailing and swimming with humpback whales in crystal-clear lagoons. For a touch of royalty, you can see the Royal Palace in Nukuʻalofa, a white timber building that has stood on the waterfront since 1867. Interestingly, Tonga is located just west of the International Date Line, meaning it is often the first country in the world to see the sunrise of a new day!

From the white sands of Pangaimotu to the ancient royal tombs of Muʻa, Tonga is a land of monarchic history and Pacific hospitality. Mālō! That means “Thank you!”