Ko e Tukufonua, Tau’atāina, mo e Konisitūtone ^Featured

Fatu 'e Hūfanga-He-Ako-Moe-Lotu, Dr ‘Ōkusitino Māhina, PhD, Professor of Tongan Philosophy, Anthropology, & Aesthetics. Vava’u Academy for Critical Inquiry & Applied Research, Vava’u, Kingdom of Tonga

Ko e Talafakatapu

Kupu/Veesi 1

Teu fakatapu mo Pangai ē

Pea tapu moe Ha’a Talafale

Tapu foki moe Ha’a kotoa pē

‘Oku fa’a taku ‘ihe mala’e

Kupu/Veesi 2

He ‘ahoni ‘oku ‘eiki pea alalea

Koe ‘aho ‘oe Naite moe Alamea

‘Elemeniti ‘oe poto ‘oku ou ‘ekea

‘O taufā ‘a Tonga ‘i hono melenga

Kupu/Veesi 3

He’ikai fonohifo ‘ae manatu

‘Ae tuku’ulu ‘ae Fo’ifātapu

‘Omi’anga ia ‘oe ngaahi monū

Ko ‘ene ‘ofa kiate koe mo au

Tau/Kōlesi

 Ko Kanokupolu koe Hifofua

Koe ‘Ālifa moe ‘Ōmeka

Melino moe ‘ofa ‘eta kuila

‘Otua mo Tonga Hota Tofi’a

Hifofua, Kuini Sālote

Ko e Talafatongia

‘Oku ou kole keu tu’ufakaunga atu pē mu’a he talafakatapua he malu ‘oe Kalauni ē Fonua ‘oku fakamalu ai ‘a Tonga kotoa, ‘o hangē koe ta’anga hiva haka lakalaka mālie fau koe “Kalauni,” ‘aia ‘oku pehē: Tapu moe Kalauni e fonua, ‘Oku fakamalu ‘a Lalo mo ‘Uta, Laukau’anga ‘o Tonga ki tu’a, ‘I hē ai ē taufatungamotu’a, ‘O tūkunga tonu ‘eta fiefia, Kei tangitangi ‘ae Mo’onia. 

‘Ofa ke ‘atā mo ngofua kau tu’u ‘o talafakakato ‘ae fakaafea ne feia mo talafatongia he ngafa kuo vahea ‘ehe Fāmili(/Kāinga) Tū ‘Okalani Lotoloto/Sentulolo keu lea ‘ihe kaveinga faingata’a atu kae mā’uhinga fau, “Koe Tukufonua, Tau’atāina, moe Konisitūtone,” pea ‘oku toe ta’ota’o atu ‘ae kole heni telia na’a taku, Ko hai Tū ia na’a ne fekaua keke ‘ihe Mala’e moe Pangai ‘o manongisia? kae teu tuku pē kihe taula ke fai pē mu’a hato Moihū ‘i ‘Āhau mo Moimoi ‘i Fanakava!

 Ko e Tukufonua

Kuo fakatukutuku’au mo fakatokotokonaki mai he Tā moe Vā ‘ae ‘Ilo he ‘Atamai moe Ongo he Loto he Tala Malu ‘oe Fonua ‘ene Maau moe Ma’opo he Tufungafonua ‘a Lo’au ‘i Ma’ananga moe Heketā he Tala ‘oe Kava moe Tō ‘oku vaka mai he Tala-tuku-ngutu ‘i Ono’aho moe Tonga Motu’a ‘oe Fuakava Motu’a – moe Tukufonua ‘a Kingi Siaosi Tāufa’āhau Tupou I koe Lo’au ‘o Tonga ‘i Onopō ‘i Pouono moe Ha’afuluhao he Tala ‘oe Konisitūtone moe Lao fakataha moe Tala ‘oe Lotu Kalisitiane ‘oku vaka mai he Tala-tuku-tohi ‘oe Tonga Fo’ou ‘oe Fuakava Fo’ou.

‘Oku humaki ‘ae Tala ‘oe Fonua he Tala ‘oe Kava moe Tō ‘oku tefito he Faimateaki moe Faikīkītaki, Tauhivā moe Faifatongia – kae hunuki ‘ae Tala ‘oe Pule’anga he Tala ‘oe Konisitūtone moe Lao ‘oku tu’unga he Maau moe Kautaha, Vaevaetaau moe Tau’atāina, he’ene vakavakaua moe Tala ‘oe Lotu Kalaisitiane he Tala ‘oe Kolosi ē ‘Akaufakalava ‘oku tefito he Faka’ofa moe Fakamolemole, Fakahaofi moe Fakamelino – ‘aia ‘oku nau tu’otu’atatau kotoa he Tala ‘oe Feilaulau ‘oku tumutumu he Kona moe Mate koe hala kihe Melie moe Mo’ui – ‘o ‘uhinga koe ngāue Tu’uloa mo Tolonga, Kinokinoifia mo Faka’ofo’ofa, kotoa pē ‘oku ma’u he Liliu meihe tūkunga ‘oe Felekeu moe Fepaki, Vākovi moe Vātau, kihe tu’unga ‘oe Maau moe Fenāpasi, Vālelei moe Vāmelino – ‘aia ‘oku tomu’a Fou he Kona ‘oe Kava moe Mate he Kolosi ‘oe ‘Akaufakalava kae tomui Ola he Melie ‘oe Tō moe Mo’ui ‘ae Fa’ahinga ‘oe Tangata meihe Mate Ta’engata.

Na’e kamata ‘e Kingi Siaosi Tāufa’āhau Tupou I ‘ae Tonga Fo’ou he Tukufonua fakataha moe Lao ‘o Vava’u ‘oe 1839 mo ‘ene Tu’i Kanokupolu 19 (mo Tu’i Tupou I) he 1845 kihe Lao ‘oe Tau’atāina ‘oe 1862 ‘o tumutumu he Konisitūtone ‘oe 1875 fakataha moe Tali ‘oe Lotu Kalisitiane moe Fokotu’u ‘a Tonga koe Pule’anga Kalauni Sovaleni (Crown Sovereign State) mo hono Falealea moe Talite moe Ngaahi Pule’anga Hau ‘o ‘Iulope pea toe kau ai moe Fokotu’u ‘oe Ako he ongo ‘apiako tupu’a koe Kolisi ko Tupou he 1866 mo ‘ene Moto koe Tonga Mo’unga kihe Loto, Loko/Kupesi koe ‘Unga, moe Lanu Pulū ‘oe Moana moe Langi – moe Kolisi Tonga he 1882 ko ‘ene Moto koe Mate Ma’a Tonga, Loko/Kupesi koe Kolosi ē ‘Akaufakalava, moe Lanu koe Kulokula koe Heliaki/Taipe ‘oe Toto/Ta’ata’a ‘o Kalaisi, ‘aia ‘oku Lanu mo Loko mo Moto tatau moe Sila ‘o Tonga koe, ‘Otua mo Tonga ko Hoku Tofi’a (God and Tonga Are My Inheritance, Heritage, or Estate). Na’e fakahuafa ‘ae fua Kolisi kia Tupou I koe Tu’i ‘oe ‘Otu Tonga pea fakahuafa ‘ae ua Kolisi ki Tonga ko hono Tu’i ko Tupou I koe Ongo Kolisi ‘ae Fonua ke Ako ai ‘ae Kau Ngāue ‘a Tonga ‘oe Lotu moe Pule’anga. ‘Oku mahino heni, tā koe ‘Olive ‘oku Tolu, ‘aia koe Ako moe Pule’anga moe Lotu koe mo’uinga moe mālohinga ‘o Tonga ‘a hono Fonua moe Kakai, ‘o hangē koe Tōfolofola ‘a Kingi Siaosi Tāufa’āhau Tupou I he motu’a Falealea ‘o Tonga he mā’uhinga moe ‘aonga ‘ae Ako, “’Oku ‘auha hoku kakai koe masiva ‘ilo.”

‘Oku tala ‘ehe Moto ‘oe Fonua koe “‘Otua mo Tonga ko Hoku Tofi’a” (God and Tonga Are My Inheritance, Heritage, or Estate) na’e tuku ‘ae Fonua ki Langi ke Tauhi mo Malu’i mai ‘ehe ‘Otua ‘a Tonga – ‘o hangē koe ta’anga hiva viki mālie ‘ae punake ‘iloa ‘o Vava’u ko Sitīveni Fonua: He uisa ē hoto fakapō! ‘A Ma’asi mo hono fu’u loto, Ka neongo ‘ene tō, Ne mau unga he Toa ‘i Pouono, Na’e tuku ē fonua, ‘E Tupou ‘o hapai kihe ‘Otua, Ke malu’i mai mei ‘Olunga, ‘A Tonga ni ‘o fai ke tuputupu’a. ‘Oku toe tala ‘ehe Moto koe Tala’api ‘a Tupou I mo hono Kakai ma’ae Tonga Si’i mo Vaivai kihe ‘Otua mo Hono Taloni ki Langi Lahi mo Mālohi -- ‘o hangē koe Tala’api ‘a Ha’ano Si’i kae Fakalahi kihe Ako moe Lotu koe Maama’anga moe Melino’anga ‘o Ha’ano mo hono Kakai.

‘Oku tuhu ‘ae Pou ‘e Ono kihe Kava moe Tō he fetaulakinga ‘oe Fale koe Vaka Fakafo’ohifo moe Vaka koe Fale Fakafo’ohake – ‘o malu ‘ae Fonua moe Kakai he Fale mei he La’ā moe ‘Uha moe Vaka mei he Peau/Ngalu moe Matangi/Avangi – ‘o hangē koe lea mohu ‘ae ta’anga hiva usu/uhu ‘oku hoko pē koe, Pou ‘Ao he ‘Aho moe Pou Maama he Pō, Koe taipe ‘eni si’etau fononga, Nofo pē mo tokanga fēfē nai kitaua Tonga, ‘Isileli ē koe pele, pele pē ka kuo mele, hono Tataki mo Huluhulu ‘ae Folauloa he Vahanoa moe Fonongaloa he Toafaloa ‘ae Tonga ‘ae Fonua mo hono Kakai. Na’e fakalanga mai mo tō ‘ae ongo ‘akau ‘e ua koe Toa moe ‘Ovava ‘i Pouono koe Fakamanatu hili ‘ae Tukufonua ki Langi kihe ‘Otua ke Tauhi mo Maluī mai ‘a Tonga koe Fu’u-toa-ko-tuku-ki-langi moe Fu’u-‘ovava-ko-tauhi-ki-ai – ‘aia kuo lava mo Tātu’otaha ‘ae Tuku-ki-angi koe toe pē ‘eni ‘ae hokohoko Tauhi-ki-ai ‘ae Fonua moe Kakai moe Tauhi-mai ma’u ‘ae ‘Otua mo Langi – ‘o hangē koe Tātu’otaha ‘ae Feilaulau he Kolosi ‘oe ‘Akaufakalava moe toutou Tauhi-ki-ai – ke fenāpasi he funga ‘oe Fetauhi’aki-‘oe-vā moe Fefua’aki-‘oe-fatongia.

Ko e Tau’atāina

Na’e tefito ‘ae liukava fakapolitikale ‘a Kingi Siaosi Tāufa’āhau Tupou I he Tau’atāina meihe kae ‘ikai Pōpula ‘a Tonga kihe pule fakapūpūha’a ‘ae Tu’i Tonga moe Tu’i Kanokupolu mo hono hou’eiki lalahi he’ene tomu’a Tau mo tomui Foaki ‘ae Tau’atānia moe Tau Tahi (Sea Warriors) – ‘o me’angāue’aki ‘ae Lao moe Konisitūtone, Pule’anga moe Falealea, Lotu moe Ako, moe hā fua hono toe fokotu’utu’u fo’ou ‘ae Mafai moe Pule he Fonua. ‘Oku ‘asi lelei ‘eni he tau / kōlesi ‘oe maa’imoa fakafatu/fakafa’u ta’anga hiva mālie koe “Ha’a Moheofo” ‘a Kuini Sālote ma’ae Fola’osi: ‘Ae Tonga keke tu’u ‘o tuē, Fiefia he ‘aho koē, Ko Kanokupolu kei tu’u pē, ‘O puke ke ma’u ‘ae talite, Kei ma’u ‘ae lao moe tūtone, ‘Eva koe mo pā’ehē, Kei tu’u ma’u ‘a ‘ene pule. Na’e toe hā ‘eni he vā ‘oe Siasi Fakaongo (Siasi Uēsiliana Metotisi) ki ‘Asitelēlia moe Siasi Tau’atāina (Siasi Tonga ‘o Tonga) ‘i Tonga – ‘aia na’e fakatanga mo fakahē Fakapolitikale kae ‘ikai koe fakatanga moe fakahē Fakalotu ‘ae Siasi Fakaongo ki ‘Asitelēlia – ‘o hohoatatau mo hohoamālie moe kaveinga moe ‘asenita lahi Fakapolitikale ‘a Kingi Siaosi Tāufa’āhau Tupou I ke Tau’atāina ‘a Tonga kae ‘ikai Pōpula ‘a Tonga kiha Pule’anga Hau (Crown Sovereign State). Na’e ‘uhinga lahi heni ‘ae ‘ikai Pōpula kae Tau’atāina ‘a Tonga mei ha Pule Fakakolonia (colonial power) moha Pule Fakahau (Foreign Sovereign Power) mo Pule Fakakolonia Fakapolitikale (colonialism) kae Fakatekinikale pē ‘o tukukehe ‘ene hoko koe Malu’i ‘e Pilitānia (British Protectorate).

‘Oku ui ‘ae Tau’atāina (autonomy) ‘i ‘Iulope moe Uēsite koe Temokalati (democracy) kae ui ‘ae Temokalati ‘i Tonga koe Tau’atāina – ‘o fokotu’utu’u Fakatokolahi ‘a Tonga kae Fakatokotaha ‘a ‘Iulope moe Uēsite – ‘aia ‘oku mā’uhinga mo ‘aonga lahi ke fokotu’utu’u Fakatokolahi mo Fakatokotaha fakatoulōua koe ongo Hoa ‘oku ta’emavahevahe. ‘Oku ui ‘ae Politiki (politics) moe ‘Ikonōmiki (economics) ‘a Tonga koe Tauhivā moe Faifatongia kae ui ‘a ‘Iulope moe Uēsite koe Temokalati (democracy) moe Kepitalisi (capitalism) – ‘o humaki ‘ae Tau’atāina ‘i Tonga he Tauhivā moe Faifatongia kae hunuki ‘ae Temokalati ‘i ‘Iulope moe Uēsite he Temokalati moe Kepitalisi. ‘Oku tupu he Fai-‘ae-fatongia hono Tauhi-‘ae-vā ‘ae Vālelei, Melino, Fiefia, Tu’umālie kae mu’aki ‘ae Tau’atāina – pea hoko ‘ae Ta’e-fai-‘ae-fatongia moe Ta’e-tauhi-‘ae-vā ‘ae Vākovi, Vātau, Tu’utāmaki kae mu’aki ‘ae Pōpula. ‘Oku tefito ‘ae Tau’atāina he Tu’a-sino (non-body-centred) he sio-ki-tu’a meihe sino kihe kakai koe “Tau-kiha-‘atā-‘oku-lahi,” ‘aia koe lahi ange ‘ae ‘Atā (space) koe lahi ia ‘ae Tāu’atāina kae si’i ange ‘ae ‘Atā (space) koe si’i ange ia ‘ae Tau’atāina koe lahi ange ia ‘ae Pōpula (tyranny) – kae tu’unga ‘ae Temokalati he Loto-sino (body-centred) koe sio-kihe-kita kihe sino ki he’ene fiema’u fakataautaha (meihe kakai mo ‘enau fiema’u fakatahataha) ‘oku tefito he “Pule-‘ae-sino-ma’ae-sino-‘ehe-sino” pē “Pule-‘ae-kakai-ma’ae-kakai-‘ehe-kakai” (government of the people for the people by the people).

‘Oku tu’unga ‘ae Temokalati moe Kepitalisi he Fe’au’auhi (competition), Fakaēhaua (exploitation), mo Fakapōpula (domination) kihe tefito ‘ae Tauhivā (sociopolitical-sociospatial relations) moe Faifatongia (keeping socio-economic obligations) (vakai kihe faitatatau moe faikehekehe ‘ae Teulevā moe Tautua fakaHa’amoa) he Fetauhi’aki (mutual-caring), Fetokoni’aki (mutual-keeping/giving), moe Fefakatau’atāinaki (mutual-liberating). Na’e mahino lelei ‘ae Hoakehekehe moe Hoatamaki (opposite relations) ‘ae vā ko ‘eni he tō ‘ae mahaki faka’auha, tāmate, moe pipihi koe Kōveti-19 na’e ho’ata mai he fiema’u moe faka’amu ke foki meihe Tu’unga-faingatāmaki (state of emergency) moe Nofo-fakatautaha (condition of physical-social exclusion-separation) kihe Tu’unga-faingamālie (state of normality) moe Nofo-fakatahataha (condition of physical-social inclusion-connection). ‘Oku ‘uhinga ‘eni koe foki meihe Politiki moe ‘Ikonōmiki koe Temokalati moe Kepitalisi ‘a ‘Iulope moe Uēsite kihe Politiki moe ‘Ikonōmiki koe Tauhivā moe Faifatongia ‘a Tonga.

‘Oku tu’u tauhoa ‘ae me’a kotoa fua pē ‘o kau ai ‘ae Kona moe Melie, Mate moe Mo’ui, Mamahi moe Fiefia, moe Pōpula moe Tau’atānia – ‘o hangē koe Tu’i mo hono Kakai moe Kakai mo honau Tu’i moe Hou’eiki mo honau Kakai moe Kakai mo honau Hou’eiki. ‘Oku takitaha Fai-honau-fatongia ‘oe Tu’i, Hou’eiki, moe Kakai he takitaha Tauhi-honau-vā ke Vālelei kae ma’u ‘ae Fiefia moe Melino ‘o tumutumu he Tau’ataina kae ‘ikai koe Ta’e-fai-honau-fatongia moe Ta’e-tauhi-honau-vā koe Vākovi kae ola koe Mamahi moe Vātau ‘o tumutumu he Pōpula. ‘Oku pehē tofu pē ‘ae Tu’i, kau Fakafofonga Falealea ‘oe Kau Nōpele, moe kau Fakafofonga Falealea ‘oe Kakai ‘oku nau takitaha fakafofonga ‘ae Kakai Tatau kotoa pē ‘o Tonga kae ‘ikai koe Tu’i pē ‘ae Tu’i, kau Nōpele pē ‘ae kau Nōpele, moe Kakai pē ‘ae Kakai he funga ‘enau takitaha fai ‘enau Tauhivā moe Faifatongia ke Vālelei mo Tau’atāina kae ‘ikai koe Vākovi moe Pōpula. ‘Oku nau takitaha fai ‘enau founga he funga ‘oe Alea he Fale ke ma’u ‘ae lelei fakakātoi mo fakalukufua ‘ae Kakai moe Fonua ‘oku nau takitaha fakafofonga.

Ko e Konisitūtone

 ‘Oku tefito ‘ae Lao he Konisitūtone – ‘o hangē koe Lao moe Konisitūtone ‘a Tonga – ‘aia ‘oku konga/vahe lalahi ‘e tolu (1) Koe totonu ‘ae kakai; (2) Koe fuo moe uho ‘oe mafai moe pule; moe (3) Koe kelekele, hohoko, moe fakatau kelekele. ‘Oku lahi faufau ‘ae Lao kae tautefito kihe Konisitūtone ke fai hano siofi mo anga’i ka teu lave si’i pē kihe konga (2) Koe fuo moe uho ‘oe mafai moe pule – ‘aia ‘oku fokotu’utu’u ‘ae Pule’anga ‘o tu’unga hono vahevahe kihe (i) Falealea koe Fa’ulao; (ii) Fakatahatokoni koe Fakamo’onilao; moe (iii) Fakamaau’anga koe Fakahokolao ke nau takitaha ngāue fakataha Tau’atāina ma’ae lelei fakalukufua ‘ae Fonua moe Kakai, ‘a Tonga kotoa. Na’e fokotu’uutu’u fakaHa’a ‘ae Mafai moe Pule ‘i Tonga meihe Ha’a Faka’ikonōmiki ‘oku tefito he Fatongia (professions) ‘ae Tu’i Tonga moe Tu’i Ha’atakalaua – ‘o hangē koe Ha’a Faiva Punake, Ha’a Tufunga Fouvaka, moe Ha’a Nimame’a Koka’anga kihe Ha’a FakaPolitiki ‘oku tu’unga he Hingoa (titles) ‘ae Tu’i Kanokupolu – ‘o hangē koe Ha’a Ngata, Ha’a Havea, moe Ha’a Ma’afu – ‘aia ‘oku matu’aki mā’uhinga atu mo ‘aonga fau hona fakafenāpasi koe to’ongapō ngaahi lavame’a moe tukutukulaumea tu’uloa mo tolonga, lelei mo faka’ofo’ofa, meihe Tonga ‘oe Kuohili/Kuongamu’a (past) moe Tonga ‘oe Lotolotonga/Kuongaloto (present) kihe Tonga ‘oe Kaha’u/Kuongamui (future) – ‘o faimateaki mo faikīkītaki hona fakatatau mo fakafenāpasi tu’uma’u mo ta’engata fakatoulōua koe to’ongapō ‘ae Tonga ‘oe lotolotonga/kuongaloto ma’ae Tonga ‘oe Kuohili/Kuongamu’a moe Tonga ‘oe Kaha’u/Kuongamui.

Ko e Talangata

Kuo fakahuafa ‘ehe kau sikola moe kau faihisitōlia ‘o Mamani ‘a Kingi Siaosi Tāufa’āhau Tupou I ‘o Tonga, mo kau ai ‘a Kingi Pomare ‘o Tahiti, mo Kingi Kamehemeha ‘o Vaihi koe kau Tangata’eiki Lahi ‘oe Moana Pasifiki (Grand Old Men of the Moana Pacific) mo toe taku ‘a Kingi Siaosi Tūfa’āhau Tupou I koe Tamai ‘ae Tonga Fo’ou (Father of Modern Tonga) – ‘o tefito kotoa he’enau ngaahi Lavame’a moe Tukutukulaumea tolonga mo tu’uloa, manumanumelie mo kinokinoifia ‘ene fungani mo tu’utai kihe Hisitōlia moe Fonua, ‘Ilo moe Poto, mo Faka’ofo’ofa mo ‘Aonga mo’oni.

‘Oku ‘iloa ‘ene Tufungafonua he’ene Tukufonua, Langafonua, Fa’ufonua, Tauhifonua, moe Fatakifonua – ‘aia kuo fakateunga’aki ‘ehe kau ‘ilo’ilo moe poto he ako moe fakatotolo moe kau punake kakato ‘iloa he faiva maau moe faiva lau hono ngaahi huafa fakatenetene – ‘o hangē koe Maeakafa, Ngininginiofolanga, Lopaukamea, Lopa’aione, Hifofua, Fo’ifātapu, Fo’ifākula, Fo’ifalahola, Fo’ikukuvalu, Mo’onia, Naite, Alamea, ‘Ālifa, ‘Ōmeka, moe hā fua. ‘Oku toki mo’oni ai ‘ae loloto, loloa, moe maokupu ‘oe lea Tonga heliaki kuo fakatokotokonaki he vaa’ikuonga koe, “Taau pē Lei moe Tofua’a, mo Taau pē Tofua’a moe Lei” – ‘aia koe Lei moe Tofua’a ko Hono huafa ko Kingi Siaosi Tāufa’āhau Tupou I koe Tu’i ‘ae Tau Tahi koe Tu’i ‘oe ‘Otu Tonga.

Koe Ma’ungatala

‘Ilaiū, S. L. 2019. Paradigm Shifts in Ancient Kingship Traditions in Tonga. A historical and anthropological examination of political changes throughout the bi-partite and tri-partite systems of government 1350-1875: The Case of Hau. Unpublished PhD thesis, History and Anthropology, Massey University – Albany, Auckland, New Zealand.

Lātūkefu, S. 1974. Church and State in Tonga: The Wesleyan Methodist Missionaries and Political Development, 1822-1875. Canberra, ANU Press.

Lātūkefu, S. 1975. The Tongan Constitution: A Brief History to Celebrate Its Centenary. Nuku’alofa, Tonga: Tonga Traditions Committee.

Māhina, ‘Ō. 1986. Religion, Politics, and the Tu’i Tonga Empire. Unpublished MA thesis, Anthropology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.

Māhina, ‘Ō. 1992. The Tongan Traditional History Tala-ē-fonua: A Vernacular Ecology-centred, Historico-cultural Concept. Unpublished PhD thesis, Pacific History, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.