Kolonga
Encyclopedia
Historical Place Name
Kolonga is the largest village and populated settlement located on the northeast coast of Tongatapu in the Hahake District, Kingdom of Tonga
. The current population of Kolonga was recorded in the Tonga 2006 Census as 1,199. One historical interpretation is that Kolonga was, at one time, a collection of huts. The metaphoric reference to Kolonga is 'Utulongoa'a, a term which has come to mean the noisy shore. This reference alludes to the sound of waves crashing against limestone and coral cliff faces that fortify the settlement.
The word kolonga features in the Tongan
proverb, Ala-i-sia-ala-i-kolonga (Mahina 2004), translated as, skillful at the mound, skillful at the hut. This indigenous proverb derived its meaning from the pigeon trappers’ practice of heu lupe, the snaring of pigeons. The mound on which the pigeons were trapped was called sia, and the temporary huts where the men resided and stored the captured pigeons were called kolonga. The proverb in vernacular language would be written as, Ala 'i sia, ala 'i kolonga. The meaning thus paid tribute to the trapper who was not merely skillful in snaring pigeons, but also skillful at storing and preserving the birds. The proverb referred to individuals who possessed the ability to successfully function in multiple contexts, a trait held in high regard by early Tongans. Relevant to the village characteristic of Kolonga and present day descendents, the proverb captured an element of wisdom known to the early Tongans. That is, humans have greater success at surviving if they are adaptable, skillful and functional in more than one environment.
Doctor of Philosophy Theses By Academics of Kolonga Ancestry
Brown Pulu, T. J. 2007. Kakai Tonga 'i 'Okalani Nu'u Sila: Tongan Generations in Auckland New Zealand. Unpublished PhD Thesis in Anthropology, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand. (See external link for the digital copy of the Doctoral Thesis at The University of Waikato Research Commons: http://researchcommons.waikato.ac.nz//handle/10289/2584).
Ka'ili, T. O. 2008. Creating Beauty Through the Art of Socio-Spatial Ties. Unpublished PhD Thesis in Anthropology, University of Washington, Seattle, United States of America.
Sevele, F. V. 1973. Regional Inequalities in Socio-Economic Development in Tonga. Unpublished PhD Thesis in Geography, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Publications by Academics of Kolonga Ancestry
Brown Pulu, T. J. 2002. Turangawaewae/Tu'ungava'e: Echoes of a Place to Stand and Belong. He Puna Korero: Journal of Maori and Pacific Development 3 (2): 14-30.
Ka'ili, T. O. 2005. Tauhi Va: Nurturing Tongan Sociospatial Ties in Maui and Beyond. The Contemporary Pacific 17 (1): 83-114.
Sevele, F. V. and Petelo, H. 1989. Agricultural Export Marketing Institutions in Tonga: An Assessment of the Role and Consequences of Government Involvement. Honolulu, Hawai'i: East-West Center.
Sporting Honours by Athletes of Kolonga Ancestry
Athletics: Track and Field
Pulu, Seminati. 1969. Represented Tonga: Silver Medal, 100 Metre Sprint, 11.0 Seconds; Silver Medal, 200 Metre Sprint, 22.1 Seconds. Third South Pacific Games, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. (See External Link for South Pacific Games Track and Field Medalists: http://www.gbrathletics.com/ic/spg.htm).
Boxing
Pulu, Soakai. 1934 - 1953. Undefeated Tonga Heavyweight Boxing Championship Title. (See Ruhen 1963, p. 48).
Pulu, Sione. 1974. Represented Tonga: Heavyweight Contender. Commonwealth Games, Christchurch, New Zealand. (See Tonga at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games
for Athlete/Event Description; See Also External Link: http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=2-3338-0-0-0&sID=32718).
Pulu, Tony. 1970 - 1985. Heavyweight Boxer: Won 19 (KO 10), Lost 14 (KO 10), Drawn 1; Total of 34 Fights in 15-Year Period Located in Nuku'alofa Tonga, Los Angeles California, San Diego California, Las Vegas Nevada, Salt Lake City Utah, Dallas Texas. (See External Link for Athlete/Event Description: http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=22658&cat=boxer).
Pulu, Viliami. 1984. Represented Tonga: Super Heavyweight Contender. Olympic Games, Los Angeles, United States of America. (See Tonga at the 1984 Summer Olympics
for Athlete/Event Description; See Also External Link: http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/pu/viliami-pulu-1.html).
Rugby
Howlett, Douglas Charles. 2000 - 2007. Represented New Zealand: 62 All Black International Caps. (See Doug Howlett
for Current Biographical Detail).
Kolonga is the largest village and populated settlement located on the northeast coast of Tongatapu in the Hahake District, Kingdom of Tonga
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
. The current population of Kolonga was recorded in the Tonga 2006 Census as 1,199. One historical interpretation is that Kolonga was, at one time, a collection of huts. The metaphoric reference to Kolonga is 'Utulongoa'a, a term which has come to mean the noisy shore. This reference alludes to the sound of waves crashing against limestone and coral cliff faces that fortify the settlement.
The word kolonga features in the Tongan
Tongan language
Tongan is an Austronesian language spoken in Tonga. It has around 200,000 speakers and is a national language of Tonga. It is a VSO language.-Related languages:...
proverb, Ala-i-sia-ala-i-kolonga (Mahina 2004), translated as, skillful at the mound, skillful at the hut. This indigenous proverb derived its meaning from the pigeon trappers’ practice of heu lupe, the snaring of pigeons. The mound on which the pigeons were trapped was called sia, and the temporary huts where the men resided and stored the captured pigeons were called kolonga. The proverb in vernacular language would be written as, Ala 'i sia, ala 'i kolonga. The meaning thus paid tribute to the trapper who was not merely skillful in snaring pigeons, but also skillful at storing and preserving the birds. The proverb referred to individuals who possessed the ability to successfully function in multiple contexts, a trait held in high regard by early Tongans. Relevant to the village characteristic of Kolonga and present day descendents, the proverb captured an element of wisdom known to the early Tongans. That is, humans have greater success at surviving if they are adaptable, skillful and functional in more than one environment.
Doctor of Philosophy Theses By Academics of Kolonga Ancestry
Brown Pulu, T. J. 2007. Kakai Tonga 'i 'Okalani Nu'u Sila: Tongan Generations in Auckland New Zealand. Unpublished PhD Thesis in Anthropology, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand. (See external link for the digital copy of the Doctoral Thesis at The University of Waikato Research Commons: http://researchcommons.waikato.ac.nz//handle/10289/2584).
Ka'ili, T. O. 2008. Creating Beauty Through the Art of Socio-Spatial Ties. Unpublished PhD Thesis in Anthropology, University of Washington, Seattle, United States of America.
Sevele, F. V. 1973. Regional Inequalities in Socio-Economic Development in Tonga. Unpublished PhD Thesis in Geography, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Publications by Academics of Kolonga Ancestry
Brown Pulu, T. J. 2002. Turangawaewae/Tu'ungava'e: Echoes of a Place to Stand and Belong. He Puna Korero: Journal of Maori and Pacific Development 3 (2): 14-30.
Ka'ili, T. O. 2005. Tauhi Va: Nurturing Tongan Sociospatial Ties in Maui and Beyond. The Contemporary Pacific 17 (1): 83-114.
Sevele, F. V. and Petelo, H. 1989. Agricultural Export Marketing Institutions in Tonga: An Assessment of the Role and Consequences of Government Involvement. Honolulu, Hawai'i: East-West Center.
Sporting Honours by Athletes of Kolonga Ancestry
Athletics: Track and Field
Pulu, Seminati. 1969. Represented Tonga: Silver Medal, 100 Metre Sprint, 11.0 Seconds; Silver Medal, 200 Metre Sprint, 22.1 Seconds. Third South Pacific Games, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. (See External Link for South Pacific Games Track and Field Medalists: http://www.gbrathletics.com/ic/spg.htm).
Boxing
Pulu, Soakai. 1934 - 1953. Undefeated Tonga Heavyweight Boxing Championship Title. (See Ruhen 1963, p. 48).
Pulu, Sione. 1974. Represented Tonga: Heavyweight Contender. Commonwealth Games, Christchurch, New Zealand. (See Tonga at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games
Tonga at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games
Tonga sent a delegation to the 1974 British Commonwealth Games in Christchurch. The 1974 Games marked the Pacific kingdom's first participation in the Commonwealth Games...
for Athlete/Event Description; See Also External Link: http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=2-3338-0-0-0&sID=32718).
Pulu, Tony. 1970 - 1985. Heavyweight Boxer: Won 19 (KO 10), Lost 14 (KO 10), Drawn 1; Total of 34 Fights in 15-Year Period Located in Nuku'alofa Tonga, Los Angeles California, San Diego California, Las Vegas Nevada, Salt Lake City Utah, Dallas Texas. (See External Link for Athlete/Event Description: http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=22658&cat=boxer).
Pulu, Viliami. 1984. Represented Tonga: Super Heavyweight Contender. Olympic Games, Los Angeles, United States of America. (See Tonga at the 1984 Summer Olympics
Tonga at the 1984 Summer Olympics
Tonga competed in the Olympic Games for the first time at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, United States.- Boxing :Men's Super Heavyweight * William Pulu* First Round – Bye* Quarterfinals – Lost to Robert Wells , KO-1...
for Athlete/Event Description; See Also External Link: http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/pu/viliami-pulu-1.html).
Rugby
Howlett, Douglas Charles. 2000 - 2007. Represented New Zealand: 62 All Black International Caps. (See Doug Howlett
Doug Howlett
Douglas Charles Howlett is a professional New Zealand rugby union player of Tongan descent. He is primarily a wing but he has also covered fullback at national and international levels. He currently plays in Ireland with Munster. He is the brother of former Tongan rugby league international Phil...
for Current Biographical Detail).