A question posed by one of our Twinnies followers.

The enclosed response is specifically drawn from the context of Her Late Majesty, Queen Sālote Tupou III's writings from her book "Ko e tohi 'a Kuini Sālote", where reference is made to the tale of the kava. Further, a short clip was  produced, narrated and more recently a published book: "Tala 'o e Kava/Tale of the Kava"

TALE OF THE KAVA:

"Malo Fevanga mo Fefafa si’i ‘ofa, kuo ma’u tu’unga lelei ‘a Tonga, pea

‘oku kei tu’u ‘o a’u ki he ‘aho ni. ‘Ofa ke ‘oua na’a ngalo pe he ‘a e loto’i

Tonga ‘o afe mei he sipinga kuo mo ta. ‘Oku kei tauhi ‘a e kava ko e

tefito’i fa’unga ‘o e fonua, ko si’omo fakamanatu".

Thank you Fevanga and Fefafa for such love, Tonga has a good foundation, and it stands still

to the present day. Hopeful, that the heart of the Tongan will not forget nor go astray from

the archetype you both have exhibited. The kava is retained still as the preeminent formation

of the nation, in reminisce of you both.

(Tongan piece by Her Late Majesty, Queen Sālote Tupou III, from her book "Ko e tohi 'a Kuini Sālote".

English Translation by Twinnies)

Her Late Majesty, Queen Sālote Tupou III, insights us that the foundation tapestry of our Tongan values of respect, loyalty, keeping of relations, humility, and love were long bred in an era somewhat perceived and too often wrongly  narrated as an era of darkness, that specifically being; pre-christianity.

Alas, the archetype of ultimate love was rendered a fore time the arrival of christianity to Tonga. This referring to the ultimate sacrifice Fevanga and Fefafa made of their only daughter Kava for their King.

"Lau ko e kuonga po’uli, kae vakai kuo mo fai ‘a e ‘ofa faka-‘Otua ‘a e li’aki

‘a e ‘Alo, te’eki ha’u ‘a e lotu ki Tonga ni kuo fai ‘e si’a ongo Tonga ‘a e

taipe ‘o e ‘ofa taupotu".

Perceived as an era of darkness, but behold you both have demonstrated Godly love, forgoing

the child, a fore time the arrival of religion to Tonga, two dear Tongans have rendered the

archetype of ultimate love.

(Tongan piece by Her Late Majesty, Queen Sālote Tupou III, from her book "Ko e tohi 'a Kuini Sālote".

English Translation by Twinnies)

TWINNIES