Haʻafeva
Ha{{okina}}afeva is a small island in the Haʻapai group of Tonga, but still the main island of the Lulunga archipelago. Kolongatata is the name commonly given to the village on Ha{{okina}}afeva and is a reference to Ha{{okina}}afeva's exposure to strong winds. The inhabited area of Ha{{okina}}afeva can be divided into Hahake, Hihifo, Tu{{okina}}a Kolo, Loto Kolo and Uta. The Island has a population of 192.{{cite web |url=https://tongastats.gov.to/download/231/2021/5692/census-2021-preliminary-results_dec-2021.pdf |title=PRELIMINARY RESULT TONGA POPULATION CENSUS 2021 |publisher=Tonga Statistics Department |page=4 |date=24 December 2021 |access-date=31 December 2021}}
Geography
Ha{{okina}}afeva is 42 km southwest of Pangai in the Ha{{okina}}apai group of islands at Latitude (DMS) 19° 56' 60 S and Longitude (DMS) 174° 43' 0 W.
History
Haʻafeva is the home estate of the chiefly line of Tu{{okina}}uhetoka (now merged with Lasike). It was Moatunu, one of their ancestors, who once saved Tāufa{{okina}}āhau I from losing a decisive battle and even death at the Battle of Velata in 1826. When Tāufa{{okina}}āhau came to Ha{{okina}}afeva to ask the chief for help with his war against Laufilitonga, the last Tu{{okina}}i Tonga to be, the chief did not want to help him, having his allegiance with the other. But when his sister threatened to go instead, he switched loyalty, and fought close to Tāufa{{okina}}āhau. Then the latter was hit on the head by several attackers and lay unconscious on the ground. The Ha{{okina}}afeva chief fought off all enemies until Tāufa{{okina}}āhau became conscious again. Later this warrior was named "Tu{{okina}}u-he-toka" ("Standing while the chief is sleeping"). Had Tāufa{{okina}}āhau been a commoner instead of a chief, the proper term would be tu{{okina}}u-he-mohe; had he been king, tu{{okina}}u-he-tōfā would have been used.
The area around the island was also the site of the 1789 Mutiny on the Bounty.
The island was damaged by a tropical cyclone in March 1963.{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-324691793/view?sectionId=nla.obj-333723656&partId=nla.obj-324731461#page/n11/mode/1up |title=TONGA'S BANAM CROP DAMAGED BY HURRICANE |work=Pacific Islands Monthly |volume=XXXIII |issue=9 |page=10 |date=1 April 1963 |access-date=2 September 2023 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19630318.2.134 |title=DAMAGE TO BANANAS |work=The Press |page=14 |date=18 March 1963 |access-date=2 September 2023 |via=Papers Past}} In December 1980 the ferry Fetu’umoana capsized near Haʻafeva, with the loss of eleven lives.{{cite news |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19801224.2.44 |title=Tragedy investigated |work=The Press |page=4 |date=24 December 1980 |access-date=2 September 2023 |via=Papers Past}}{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-341967135/view?sectionId=nla.obj-345548470&partId=nla.obj-341995353#page/n66/mode/1up |title=Eleven died in capsize |work=Pacific Islands Monthly |volume=52 |issue=3 |page= |date=1 March 1981 |access-date=2 September 2023 |via=National Library of Australia}}
Archaeology
Ha{{okina}}afeva is home to an excavation site dubbed 'Mele Havea', after Mele Havea, whose house is nearby. Hundreds of pieces of early Eastern Lapita pottery were unearthed there in 1996 and 1997 along with various other artifacts of early settlements. Carbon dating places these artifacts at approximately 2690 to 2490 years BP.
Ferry sinking
Ha{{okina}}afeva was to have been the destination of the ill-fated {{MV|Princess Ashika}}, an inter-island ferry that sank on 5 August 2009, claiming many lives. Most of those killed were women and children as it is usual in Tonga for men to sleep on the decks of boats while the children and women shelter inside.{{cite news |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/fears-no-women-or-children-survived-ferry-sinking/R3CAFSVDOLQRWE5MCLTS3SUOUI/ |title=Fears no women or children survived ferry sinking |date=6 August 2009 |agency=NZPA |work=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=18 January 2022}}
References
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