(chiefs) are a junior rank of the (king's lineage) in Tonga.

Terminology

The are described as . means 'side of the road' and means 'lower'. Thus, is the lower side of the road.

The term differentiates the from the who are the most senior and sacred members of the king's lineage. In contrast to , the are the , meaning the 'higher side of the road'.

In Muʻa Tongatapu, the ancient capital of Tonga and the traditional residence of the , the lived on the higher, inland side of the road, whereas, the lived on the lower, beach side of the road. In Muʻa Tongatapu, the settlement was expanded along the lower, beach side of the road.

During Inasi ceremonies, when tributes were brought from the various chiefdoms (districts) of the Tonga empire to the , the would arrive in canoes and settle along the beach. After presenting their tributes (such as fruit), the would return to their chiefdoms.

is the title given to the .

Ngata, 1st Tuʻi Kanokupolu

The position of originated at the time of the Mo'unga'otonga, the sixth Tuʻi Haʻa Takalaua (king). Ngata was the youngest son of Moungatonga and Tohuʻia, a Samoan Taupou (Princess) from Upolu, Samoa who was the daughter of Samoan War Chief Ama of Safata. Ngata was sent to Hihifo district, Tongatapu, the western part of the Tongan empire, to govern the district on behalf of the , the Tuʻi Tonga and the . Ngata was escorted by his uncle, Nuku and his cousin, Niukapu. (These events are depicted in the story). Ngata's venture was also supported by his mother's family, the ('House of Haʻakili'). Throughout Tonga, the are the traditional supporters of the . Ngata married Vaʻetapu and Kaufoʻou, the two daughters of Ahomeʻe, a chief of Haʻavakatolo, Hihifo district. The children formed the first chiefdom and resided in Hihifo. The chiefdom, the , is divided into (old Haʻa Ngata) and .

Chiefs of the Haʻa Ngata Motuʻa clan

  • ʻAhio (ʻulu)
  • Kapukava
  • Ata
  • Veʻehala
  • Vaha'i
  • Afu
  • ʻAhomeʻe
  • Hafoka

Atamataʻila, 2nd Tuʻi Kanokupolu

Atamataʻila was the son of Ngata and Kaufoʻou of Hihifo. He reinforced the office of the governor of Hihifo. When he married Tokilupe, the daughter of Tuʻi Haʻatuʻunga and the niece of Tuʻi Haʻamea, chief of the Central Tongan Empire. Atamataʻilaʻa daughter, Palula, was sent to be the wife of the eighth king of Tonga, Vaea Tangitau.

Mataeletuʻapiko, 3rd Tuʻi Kanokupolu

Mataeletuʻapiko was the son of Atamataʻila and Tokilupe. He married Papahaʻamea, a daughter of the Tuʻi Haʻamea, chief of the Central Tongan Empire; Fatafehi, a daughter of the 31st Tuʻi Tonga, Kauʻulufonuafekai; and Tuʻimala, daughter of the Tuʻi Tonga, Fefine, of the Tamahā clan.

The children of Mataeletuʻapiko formed the second clan of the , the . The is divided into the , the older Havea clan of central Tonga and the , the younger Havea clan of the Vavaʻu Islands.

Chiefs of the Haʻa Havea Lahi clan

  • Ma'afu (ʻulu)
  • Lavaka
  • Fielakepa
  • Fohe
  • Tuʻivakanō
  • Vaea
  • Lasike (son of their sister)
  • Mohulamu Momotu

Cook also wrote about "Feenou" (Finau ʻUlukalala of Vavaʻu); "Toobou", chief of "Annamouka" (Tupou chief of Nomuka); "Tooboueitoa", king of the surrounding islands of "Kottoo" (Tupoutoʻa, high chief of Kotu and the surrounding islands of Haʻapai); "Poulaho" (Paulaho the Tuʻi Tonga) and his son, "Fattafaihe" (Fatafehi) who was about twelve years old at the time; and "Toobou" (most likely the Tuʻi Kanokupolu of the time, as they were addressed as Tupou).

While Cook described Maealiuaki as "old and in retirement", he also noted that the Tupou was younger and going blind from an eye problem; that Maealiuaki and Tupou were brothers; that there was a peaceful interaction between all the chiefs; and that respect was paid to the Tuʻi Tonga Paulaho and his son, Fatafehi.

Tupou Moheofo, 12th Tuʻi Kanokupolu

Tupou Moheofo was the daughter of Tupoulahi and the principal wife of the Tui Tonga Paulaho. Her cousin, Tukuaho opposed her marriage. It is said he came from his home on Eua and said,

: ('vagina wanting to be penis')

Tupou Moheofo was defeated by Tukuʻaho. He installed his own father, Mumui, the son of Maʻafu ʻo Tuʻi Tonga, as the thirteenth Tuʻi Kanokupolu.

Vason described the incident between Tupou Moheofo and Tukuʻaho in 1797. Therefore, the incident must have happened some years earlier, as Mumui was already a king when Vason was in residence. Vason wrote,

:"Amongst our visitors was Duatonga (Tuʻi Tonga), or Futtafaihe (Fatafehi), who, next to Dugonagaboola (Tuʻi Kanokupolu), was the most powerful chief in the Island. He was son of Poulaho, a descendant of those, who were supposed originally to have descended from the sky. When Captain Cook was at Tongataboo, this native was eleven years of age. After the death of his Father, which happened when he was too young to have any share in the government, his Mother lost the sovereignty. Toogahowe (Tukuʻaho), or Dugonagaboola (later Tuʻi Kanokupolu), who was a great warrior, wrested it from her, and then invested his Father Moomooe (Mumui) with it, who was the reigning chief, when we landed."

His Majesty, King George Tāufaʻāhau Tupou II, 20th Tuʻi Kanokupolu

Her Majesty, Queen Salote Tupou III, 21st Tuʻi Kanokupolu

His Majesty, King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV, 22nd Tuʻi Kanokupolu

Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV was the son of Her Majesty, Queen Salote Tupou III and Chief Tungi. As a Crown Prince he was known as Tupoutoʻa and later inherited his father's title, Tungi. He ascended to the throne in 1965 and retained the title Tungi, while the title Tupoutoʻa was passed on to the Crown Prince.

His Majesty, King George Tupou V, 23rd Tuʻi Kanokupolu

He succeeded his father in 2006 and reigned until his death in 2012.

His Majesty, King Tupou VI, 24th Tuʻi Kanokupolu

After the death of his older brother King George Tupou the V he inherited the throne due his brother not having descendants.

Notes

References

External sources

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20100721234346/http://www.palaceoffice.gov.to/] Official Web Site of The Tongan Monarchy.
  • [http://malotonga.com/1HohokoTuputupulefanuaTK.html] Malo Tonga Tuputupulefanua Tu'ikanokupolu Cocker 2000