Tu'i Ha'atakalaua
Encyclopedia
The Tui Haatakalaua was a dynasty of Tongan kings, which originated in the 15th century by taking over the power from the Tui Tonga
line. Lost the power in 16th century to the Tui Kanokupolu
dynasty, and disappeared into nothingness by the end of the 18th century.
4 out of the current 33 hereditary noble titles in Tonga trace their authority from the Tuʻi Haʻatakalaua. These are: Tungī
, Luani, Fotofili and Fakafānua. Collectively they are known as the Fāaʻi hai (those four). The traditional burial grounds of the Tuʻi Haʻatakalaua in Lapaha are: Fale pulemālō, Fale fakauō, Fale tuingapapai (or tuipapai), Fale loloʻamanu (nowadays split up into (Fale) Loʻāmanu and Tauhakeleva). These 5 are considered to be traditional langi although not named so, as the real langi are for the Tuʻi Tonga only.
Tu'i Tonga
The Tui Tonga is a line of Tongan kings, which originated in the 10th century with the mythical Ahoeitu; withdrew from political power in the 15th century by yielding to the Tui Haatakalaua; and died out with Laufilitonga in 1865...
line. Lost the power in 16th century to the Tui Kanokupolu
Tu'i Kanokupolu
The Ha'a Tu'i Kanokupolu is the most junior of the Ha'a Tu'i in Tonga. They are generally refer to as the Kau Halalalo The Ha'a Tu'i Tonga, the most senior and Sacred Ha'a Tu'i in Tonga are generally refer to as the Kauhala'uta, The inland side of the roads...
dynasty, and disappeared into nothingness by the end of the 18th century.
- Moungāmotua – around 1470; might have been first installed as viceroy by his older brother Kauulufonua I the incumbent Tui Tonga, as the latter remained in his residence on the high grounds of Olotele in MuaMu'a (Tongatapu)Mua is a small city in the Hahake district on the island of Tongatapu, and it was for centuries the ancient capital of Tonga. It is divided in the villages Lapaha and Tatakamotonga, is close to Talasiu and famous for the ancient langi .-Geography:Mua is situated along the eastern side of the...
, while he had to stay on the lowlaying lands of Fonuamotu, reclaimed from the lagoon. These two areas were separated by the Fonuamoa (dry land) road. As such his followers became known as the Kauhalalalo (low road people) while the chiefs associated with the Tui Tonga line became known as Kauhalauta (inland road people). However considering what happened after, it seems that later (or sooner) Moungāmotua seized all the power from his brother although he did not dare to wipe out completely the Tui Tonga. Instead he sent Kauulufonua away to Sāmoa and reigned in his name until his new dynasty, the Tui Haatakalaua line had grown powerful to eclipse the Tui Tonga. That took about a century. - Tanekingaotonga
- Vaematoka
- Siulangapō
- Vakalahimoheuli – around 1550, he (or his father) allowed the Tui Tonga to come back from exile in Sāmoa
- Mounga o Tonga – he had several sons who he appointed as governors during his lifetime. One of them, Ngata, was appointed to the Hihifo district and imperceptedly started the Tui Kanokupolu line. A daughter married Fatafehi, the Tui Tonga, starting a blood relationship between the two dynasties.
- Fotofili - was met by Abel TasmanAbel TasmanAbel Janszoon Tasman was a Dutch seafarer, explorer, and merchant, best known for his voyages of 1642 and 1644 in the service of the VOC . His was the first known European expedition to reach the islands of Van Diemen's Land and New Zealand and to sight the Fiji islands...
in 1643 - Vaea - discovered that the Tui Kanokupolu had grown into a serious rival, and fought a civil war against Mataelehaamea. His daughter was the last one to marry a Tui Tonga, Uluakimata II
- Moeakiola - contemporary with Tui Tonga Tuipulotu I, who preferred a Tui Kanokupolu princess as wife
- Tatafu - first one not to be a son of his predecessor, he was the son of Fotofili
- Kafoamotalau - a son of Vaea, showing quick successions, troubles, and a decline with the Tui Haatakalaua line; contemporary with Tui Tonga Fakanaanaa
- Tuionukulave
- Silivakaifanga
- Fuatakifolaha - son of Tongatangataulupekifolaha, who was not a Tui Haatakalaua (or perhaps was according to others); grandson (through his mother) of Mataelehaamea the Tui Kanokupolu; therefore troubles and quick successions had still not ceased
- Tupoulahi - gave up around 1771 his title as Tui Kanokupolu because of old age and may have been offered the Tui Haatakalaua title instead. Generally, however, it is doubted whether he was ever formally installed.
- Maealiuaki - was also a previous Tui Kanokupolu, and also was offered the Tui Haatakalaua title as an old age gift. It is not sure whether he really accepted or considered himself as retired. Met in that state with Captain Cook in 1777; died shortly after. With him went the last real Tui Haatakalaua. Any successor named by history after him is dubious at best.
- Mumui - may or may not have been the Tui Haatakalaua, depending on whether his older brother Maealiuaki respectively was it not or was it
- Toafunaki - was mentioned around 1790 as the Tui Haatakalaua by the missionaries, but seems never to have been officially installed. Died young in 1797 and his reburial in 1799 was an opportunity for the assassination of the Tui Kanokupolu Tukuaho.
- Mulikihaamea - even more unsure whether he ever was a real Tui Haatakalaua or not. He also was Tui Kanokupolu for a while. Some believe that he came after Maealiuaki, others see him instead of Toafunaki. Whatever the case, by this time the title had become defunct, but it would be his descendants who would claim to have been the Tui Haatakalaua otherwise.
- His son was Fatukimotulalo, whose son was Tungī Halatuituia. By then the line had acquired a new title: Tungī, which still is nowadays one of the highest noble titles in Tonga. Halatuituia's son was Tukuaho (of the lakalakaLakalakaThe lakalaka is a Tongan group dance where the performers are largely standing still and make gestures with their arms only. It is considered as the national dance of Tonga and part of the intangible human heritage...
fame), who was on his turn the father of Viliami Tungī MailefihiViliami Tungi MailefihiViliami Tungī Mailefihi was a Tongan chief and consort of Queen Sālote Tupou III.He was the son of Tukuaho who was the son of Tungī Halatuituia. The line of Tungī chiefs from Tatakamotonga was descending from the then defunct Tui Haatakalaua which in that time was more or less seen as an...
, who amalgamated with the Tui Kanokupolu.
4 out of the current 33 hereditary noble titles in Tonga trace their authority from the Tuʻi Haʻatakalaua. These are: Tungī
Tungi
* Tungi: a local name for the prickly or cactus pear, Opuntia ficus-indica.*TUNGI 'the spirit of St Helena Island' a locally made spirit from the pricky pear fruit * Tongi , Bangladesh* Tungi, India...
, Luani, Fotofili and Fakafānua. Collectively they are known as the Fāaʻi hai (those four). The traditional burial grounds of the Tuʻi Haʻatakalaua in Lapaha are: Fale pulemālō, Fale fakauō, Fale tuingapapai (or tuipapai), Fale loloʻamanu (nowadays split up into (Fale) Loʻāmanu and Tauhakeleva). These 5 are considered to be traditional langi although not named so, as the real langi are for the Tuʻi Tonga only.