Tongan Kava Ceremony-Taumafa Kava facts for kids
Tongan kava ceremonies are a very important part of Tongan life and government. These ceremonies range from casual get-togethers called “faikava” (kava parties) to the very formal and ancient Taumafa Kava, which is the Royal Kava Ceremony.
Kava ceremonies help keep Tongan culture strong, both in Tonga and for Tongans living in other countries. They remind people about duty and helping each other. They also strengthen the idea of pukepuke fonua, which means holding tightly to the land and keeping traditional Tongan culture alive.
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Kava's Beginnings: Tongan Stories
Tongans have many traditional stories, called tala tupu’a, about how kava began. One of the most popular stories was told by the late Queen Sālote Tupou III.
The most common story tells of a poor couple, Fevanga and Fefafa, and their daughter, Kava’onau. She had leprosy. In this sad story, she is sacrificed for the king. From her grave, two plants grew: the kava plant and the tō (sugarcane) plant.
However, there are other stories about kava being used by Tongans and even gods long before the Kava’onau story.
Kava in the Land of Gods
One old story talks about kava being used by the great gods in Pulotu, their homeland. Ma’afu, a Fijian chief with Tongan roots, shared this tale. He said that Hikule’o, Māui, and Tangaloa, who were important ancestor gods, drank kava to relax. They also used it for friendly competitions. One of the Māui gods even used kava as a peace offering to his father.
This story doesn't describe kava being used in formal ceremonies like the Royal Kava Ceremony. But it shows that kava was important to the gods themselves.
The First King and Kava
Kava also plays a big role in the story of the Tu’i Tonga kings. This was Tonga’s first and most sacred line of rulers. They are said to have controlled a huge empire across the Ocean. Many of Tonga's noble titles today come from this ancient line. Even the current king, King Tupou VI, is related to them.
The story tells of a half-human, half-god man named ʻAhoʻeitu. He climbed a tall toa tree to find his father, the sky-god Tangaloa ‘Eitumatupu’a. When he found his father, ‘Aho’eitu drank kava with him.
While in the sky, ‘Aho’eitu competed with his five older brothers and won. His brothers became jealous and killed him. His father, Tangaloa ‘Eitumatupu’a, found out and ordered a large kava bowl, called a tāno’a, to be brought. He told the five brothers to put ‘Aho’eitu’s remains into the bowl.
After they did, Tangaloa covered the bowl with leaves from the nonu tree. Miraculously, ‘Aho’eitu came back to life! Tangaloa then declared that ‘Aho’eitu would return to Tonga to become the Tu’i Tonga, the supreme chief or king. His five older brothers would go with him to serve and protect him.
Scholars and Tongan chiefs might disagree on some small details of this story. However, most agree that kava was used when ‘Aho’eitu was made the Tu’i Tonga. The kava bowl in the story is seen as the start of the ceremony. It shows how the older brothers accepted ‘Aho’eitu as their new leader.
The Kava'onau Story
The most widely known story about kava’s origins is that of Fevanga and Fefafa and their daughter, Kava’onau. This elderly couple lived on the island of ‘Eueiki during a terrible famine. Their daughter, Kava’onau, was sick with leprosy.
One day, a great chief, believed to be the 10th Tu’i Tonga, Momo, arrived on ‘Eueiki with his group. The old couple heard the king was coming. They wanted to prepare a proper meal for him. But because of the famine, they only had one kape plant (giant taro). When Fefafa went to get it, she found the king resting under its shade.
With no other food worthy of the king, the couple, out of duty and love, decided to sacrifice their daughter as a gift. The king's people found out and told him. The king was sad and ordered his group to leave the island, leaving the girl in her grave.
After some time, the old couple found two plants growing from their daughter’s grave. The kava plant grew at her head, and sugarcane grew at her feet. They noticed a mouse chewing the kava and becoming sleepy. When it ate the sugarcane, it became energetic.
Later, a wise chief named Lō’au visited the island. The couple told him about the plants. Lō’au told them to take the plants to the Tu’i Tonga’s compound. There, Lō’au presented the plants to the king, explained their uses, and started the kava ceremony.
The ceremony was created to remember the sacrifice of the daughter and her parents for their king. When the king drinks kava, it shows he accepts his duties to care for and lead his people.
Many Tongans know this story. It is the main reason they understand the importance of the kava plant and its role in ceremonies. Mele Onga’alupe Taumoepeau, a respected Tongan scholar, says kava represents "sacrifice, respect, loyalty to the land, keeping up relations, unity, and giving of one’s life."
How Kava Spread
Experts believe kava first grew in northern Vanuatu about 3,000 years ago. It spread across the Pacific Islands through early trade routes. People carried kava plants with them because kava cannot spread by wind or birds. It needs humans to plant its cuttings.
Kava was used in traditional medicine and for important life events, from birth to death. In many island nations like Pohnpei, Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa, kava is still used traditionally. However, in some other places like French Polynesia and Hawaii, its use decreased or stopped after European contact.
What Does "Kava" Mean?
The name "kava" is said to come from the girl, Kava’onau, who was sacrificed. The kava and sugarcane plants grew from her grave.
Kava is known and used throughout Oceania, especially in Polynesian islands. It is also called ‘awa or ‘ava in some places. In Fiji, kava is called yaqona, which is similar to the Tongan word kona, meaning bitter or too salty.
The formal ceremony where the King of Tonga is present is called the Taumafa Kava. This literally means "to eat kava," but it's a very respectful way of saying it. For everyday, informal kava drinking, Tongans use the term faikava. This shows how language changes based on who you are talking about or to in Tongan society.
Taumafa Kava: Tonga's Royal Kava Ceremony
The Taumafa Kava is a very special ceremony. It is held when the king of Tonga is officially installed as the Tu’i Kanokupolu, making him the ruling leader of all Tonga. This ceremony can also happen during funeral rites for the king or members of the royal family.
If the king is not leading the kava ceremony, it is not called a Taumafa Kava. Kava ceremonies for nobles and chiefs are called ‘ilo kava. For common people, they are simply called kava or ouau kava.
How the Kava Circle is Arranged
The way people sit at the Taumafa Kava is extremely important. The seating follows strict rules based on historical events. The king’s family group, the Ha’a Ngata, is in charge of arranging the chiefs, food, and the ceremony itself.
Members of the Ngata clan stand around the king’s kava circle, called the ‘alofi. They carry clubs and spears. This is to protect the sacred ceremony and to remind the chiefs to follow the rules.
Some people say the kava circle is arranged like the great double-hulled sailing vessels of Tonga’s past. Others believe the kava circle represents the universe. The king is like the sun, and the rope from the kava bowl is like the equator. The two sides of the circle represent the different parts of the world.
Steps of the Ceremony
The king’s Taumafa Kava is set up according to traditional Tongan ideas about social structure. It emphasizes the senior lines of chiefs and kings, going all the way back to the first Tu’i Tonga, ‘Aho’eitu.
At the head of the circle sits the ‘olovaha, where the king or the highest-ranking chief is. Next to the king are the two ‘apa’apa, who are the two most senior talking chiefs. Other chiefs who are closely related to the ancient Tu’i Tonga line or the current king sit nearby. Traditional navigators, royal undertakers, and the king’s carpenters also have their places.
Along the edges of the circle, the king’s nobles and their talking chiefs sit. They are seated according to their family group, job, and loyalty to the king. No two nobles can sit next to each other; a talking chief or a lower-ranking chief must separate them.
At the other end of the circle is the tāno’a, the royal kava bowl. The taukava, or kava mixer, sits here. Recently, during the installation ceremonies for the late King Tupou V and the current king, King Tupou VI, three kava bowls were used. This symbolized the acceptance of the three main royal family lines by the new king.
Behind the kava mixer is the tou’a. This is where commoners sit, along with those who help with the ceremony. This includes people who count the food gifts and serve the kava cups. Some very high-ranking chiefs also sit in the tou’a, in special positions called tou’a ‘eiki.
One of the king’s heralds explains that the kava ceremony has two circles: one for the chiefs and one for the commoners. It shows these two groups coming together to drink kava. This symbolizes that chiefs accept their duty to care for their people, and the people are expected to serve their chiefs. The arrangement of the kava circle shows the fonua (the land and people) connecting with their king. All parts of society are represented.
The Ceremony Begins
Once everyone is seated by the Ha’a Ngata clan, the king’s right-hand talking chief, Motu’apuaka, begins with special words of thanks for the kava and food gifts. Everyone in the circle repeats these words.
Then, the king enters the circle. Traditionally, a Fijian chief helps him enter to protect him from danger. The king sits at the head of the circle, the ‘olovaha. Motu’apuaka and the king’s left-hand talking chief, Lauaki, continue with more words of thanks.
Motu’apuaka then orders the kava and food to be arranged perfectly. Next, he orders the food to be lifted up. This shows that no weapons are hidden. After this, hundreds or even thousands of baskets of food, large pigs, and kava plants are counted. A report of all the food is then given.
Motu’apuaka orders the kava bowl and the tou’a to get ready for the kava. A kava plant is broken down and given to the kava mixer. Two helpers pour water into the bowls, and the mixer begins the special mixing process called milolua.
Once the strainer is in the bowl, ready to strain the kava, the traditional speeches begin. At least two chiefs will give grand speeches about the occasion. After the speeches, a food offering is prepared and shared among the chiefs. The king’s portion must always be accepted by a foreigner, as no Tongan is considered high enough to do this honor.
When the kava is ready, a helper announces it. The first cup is brought to the king. After the king, cups are generally served around the circle. However, high chiefs in the tou’a may also receive their cups out of order.
If a new noble is being installed, the kava serving stops when the cup reaches them. Motu’apuaka officially gives them their title and the king’s charge. Once they drink the kava, they are officially a Noble of the Kingdom of Tonga.
When all in the circle have been served, a chief from the Ngata clan tells Motu’apuaka that the kava is finished. Motu’apuaka thanks the Ngata clan and orders the kava bowl to be "lifted." The king then leaves the circle, and the ceremony is officially over.
