Tongan Celebration

On Friday night, Stacy and I went to a Tongan 'Aloha Night'. While Aloha is actually Hawaiian, the Tonga Islands are another string of islands, south of Samoa and close to Fiji. I had never heard of Tonga before we arrived here, but I am glad we have now! It was quite the party and an UNBELIEVABLE feast! They roasted a whole pig, and it was fantastic. There were heaps of salads and amazing seafood. The amount of food was also unbelievable, and they just kept it coming!

It was also an evening of dancing and singing. These kids are just teenagers, but their talent is unbelievable. After meeting a few Tongans, it is evident that they are born with music and rhythm in their souls. To hear them break effortlessly into 4 part harmony, or watch them feel the music and just start to move. It truly is incredible. The boys below are doing a traditional Tongan dance. Can you imagine the high school boys you know doing this?

While its not a traditional Tongan dance, the girls of the group did a very impressive Hula. The girl in the center is a born entertainer- with a Beyonce voice and a hip sway to match.

The girl below did a traditional solo Tongan dance wearing a traditional Tongan garment. It was very beautiful, and was much more subdued and intricate using mostly the hands and head to tell a story. As is also tradition, her skin is oiled so that people can show appreciation for the dance by sticking money on her skin. She was covered in bills and even a fifty when she finished.The woman below won for the best Aloha outfit. She acted as if she won an Oscar when they called her up. Stacy snapped this shot as she took to the dance floor after the youth were done. She saw the camera and posed- hamming it up! She was a hoot.