Humanities and Social Sciences

Anthropology Program

Tongan History Association Newsletter

Vol.1 No.1, February 1989

Report from the Third Tongan History Conference

The third international Tongan History Conference was held in Lotofoa, Foa Island, Ha'apai, Tonga, from January 12 to January 20, 1989. Participants represented five nations: Tonga, Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, and the United States. Those involved in the organization of the conference included Prof. Futa Helu and other `Atenisi staff, Na'a Fiefia at the U.S.P. extension center in Nuku'alofa, Dr. Sione Latukefu at Pacific Theological College, and Wendy Cowling at Macquarie University. Fakafeta'i to one and a11 for their efforts in making the occasion joyful, productive, and unforgettable.

The conference was opened by a superb and thought-provoking address by Her Royal Highness Princess Salote Pilolevu Tuita, which focused on several critical issues in Tongan historiography. Dr. Sione Latukefu, Conference President, fittingly followed Her Highness's speech with a loving remembrance of Her Highness's grandmother, Her Majesty Queen Salote.Many and varied papers followed. Kerry James's paper concerned gender, power, and authority in Tonga;

Noel Rutherford offered an addendum to his well-known book Shirley Baker and the King of Tonga by way of examining "New Evidence on Some Aspects of the Baker Story" that has just come to light; `Aseia Hingano offered a compact overview of the "History of the `Atenisi Institute, 1963-1988";

Aletta Biersack gave a further interpretation of the `Aho'eitu myth; Taniela Vao offered his "Impression of the Sociopolitical and Economic Make-Up of the Tongan Community in the Wellington Area";

Tesina Fuko gave an account of "Fiscal and Monetary Policies of Tonga," with special attention to the contemporary period; `Okustino Mahina gave an account of "The Fahu/Ulumo tin `a Dialectic in Operation in the Tu'i Tonga Era (Kuonga)"";

Ian Campbell evaluated evidence concerning "The Imperialism of Tupou 1";

Eric Shumway described common pitfalls of researchers (particularly overseas researchers) working in Tonga; Adrienne Kaeppler interpreted "The Lakalaka Texts of Queen Salote as Chronicles of History";

Max Rimaldi and Siua Lafitane examined "Migration and Change";

Edgar and Karl Tu'inukuafe looked at Tongan communities in Auckland; `Opeti Taliai cast light on the Tu'i Tonga title using linguistic evidence; Sione Latukefu offered a reappraisal of "The Religious Conflicts in Tonga in the 19th Century between the Wesleyans and the Roman Catholics";

Wendy Cowling proposed a model for examing the "Construction of the Self" in the context of today's tensions between tradition and modernity; Tonga Liuaki shared his knowledge of "Taufa'ahau of Ha'apai";

Niel Gunson offered a special lecture on Tonga-Samoa relations from 1777 to 1845; Freya Higgins discussed "Social, Political and Economic Constraints to Economic Development in Tonga";

`Akilisi Pohiva contributed a defense of "The Right to Know" in presentday Tonga; Finau Kolo offered his challenging thoughts on the relationship between anthropologists and Pacific islanders and the future of anthropology; Sione Faka'osi described the divinity of the Tu'i Tonga as a social and psychological phenomenon";

Le'o Hoponoa explored the relationship between Christian and traditional, preChristian outlooks; Inoke Fuakau approached history and historiography from a philosopher's point of view; and Futa Helu criticized the distinction between factbased analysis and interpretation.

Special events included feasting twice a day (accompanied by first-rate Tongan dancing of various styles);

a fund-raising evening; an afternoon at the recently formed Friendly Islands Fellowship, a women s development group;

a tour of historic spots on Foa Island (including Shirley Baker's grave, the supposed site of `Ulukalala II's residence, and the place where the Battle of Velata was fought);

a Saturday picnic and barbecue on a spectacular local beach, complete with a staging of a formal kava ceremony for the benefit of nonnational participants. Excellent accommodations were provided for those who cared to avail themselves of them.

Formation of the Tongan History Association

On January 18 a special meeting of participants was held to discuss further plans. At this meeting (and in a shorter discussion the following morning) it was decided to form the Tongan History Association. Membership is open to any and all interested in Tongan history and related Tongan matters. Annual dues are ten pa'anga a year for salaried workers and five pa'anga a year for students, retirees, farmers, etc., where incomes are smaller and/or less certain.

This year's subscription should be sent to the THA Treasurer Salote Fukofuka at the University of the South Pacific Exension Centre, P.O.. Box 278, Nuku'alofa, Tonga.THA undertakes the following functions:

1. To organize a Tongan History Conference every other year. There was some agreement that every other conference should be held in Tonga. The next conference will be held on or about May 1990 in Hamilton, New Zealand, however. For each conference, the THA will appoint an organizing committee. The chair of the organizing committee for the Hamilton conference is Edgar Tu'inukuafe, who assured the Association that funds are already available for the 1990 conference.
2. To encourage (if not oversee) the publication of the proceedings for each Tongan History Conference and to find/raise funds to support such publications. In this context, the status of the proceedings of the previous two Tongan History Conferences was established. The proceedings of the first conference are being edited by Niel Gunson, Sione Latukefu, and Phyllis Herda. The manuscript is partially prepared, but some of the papers need to be retyped. The proceedings of the second Tongan History Conference are being assembled by Edgar Tu'inukuafe; and though he has received some contributions, he awaits others. The possibility of publishing the proceedings in Tonga was raised ; and Kerry James added that she thought that IPS at U.S.P., Suva, would be interested in subsidizing publication costs if the proceedings were published in Tonga. Futa Helu is collecting the papers from this third Tongan History Conference, and paper-givers are encouraged to send their paper to Futa c/o `Atenisi Institute, Box 220, Nuku'alofa, Tonga, if they have not already done so.
3. Some interest was expressed in developing a national archive in Tonga. Elected officials (to serve until the next Tongan History Conference) are:

President: Sione Latukefu, Principal, Pacific Theological College, Suva, Fiji
Vice President: Futa Helu, Director, `Atenisi Institute, Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Secretary: Aletta Biersack, visiting at The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
Treasurer: Salote Fukofuka, U.S.P. Centre, Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Board members:
Ian Campbell, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand;
Adrienne Kaeppler, Smithsonian Institution
USA appointed overseas correspondents are:
Wendy Cowling (Sydney, Australia)
Elizabeth Wood Ellem (Melbourne, Australia)
Niel Gunson (Canberra, Australia)
Kerry James (Fiji)
Eric Shumway (Hawaii)
Edgar Tu'inukuafe(New Zealand)

Elizabeth Wood Ellem and Eric Shumway were not present at the meeting; and at the time of this writing, it is not known whether these two have agreed to accept their assignment.

By Acclamation

THA decided to ask Her Royal Highness, Princess Salote Pilolevu Tuita to be its patron. This request was conveyed to Her Highness by Adrienne Kaeppler on January 2l; and it is a pleasure to report that Her Highness has agreed to be THA's patron.Matters pending:

Should the organization incorporate itself to prevent members becoming liable for the organization's debts? Futa Helu and `Akilisi Pohiva agreed to examine this matter in the light of current Tongan law.
What use will Radio Tonga make of the tapes of the proceedings it made? Apart from broadcasting the opening several hours live, Radio Tonga made a complete audio record of the proceedings. THA's concern is to make sure that the general public will not be able to purchase copies of the tapes. Though a representative of Radio Tonga who was present at the discussion assured THA that the station did not plan to sell the tapes, Futa Helu aggreed to make further inquiries into the matter.
Everyone is encouraged to spread the word about the formation of THA and to recruit members to the organization.The officers and board members of THA plan to meet in Nuku'alofa in September 1989 to discuss agendas and plans.

The THA Newsletter

Over the next two years , two issues a year of the THA Newsletter will appear. The issue at the beginning of the next year will contain particulars about the fourth international Tongan History Conference. This Newsletter can be used to communicate with other researchers. If you have research you are doing that you would like to notify others about, or if would like to request assistance in some research, do submit notices to the Secretary for inclusion in the next Newsletter.

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