A right royal

celebration

For any Tongan, one of the most significant dates on the calendar is the birthday of King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV. The date not only marks the birth of the king, but is the one time of the year when work is forgotten and dancing, singing and merrymaking are the order of the day.

To mark this important event on the Tongan calendar, the festival of Heilala is celebrated with much pomp and ceremony.

The Heilala Festival is held annually to coincide with the King’s birthday.

This is one festival which speeds up events in the normally slow-paced Island kingdom.

Brass bands, military parades, traditional dancing, singing, sports, a float parade, a choral festival and a fishing tournament are just some of the many activities that go on.

The highlight of the festival is the Miss Heilala beauty pageant where young Tongan women are joined by contestants from the Tongan communities in New Zealand, Australia and the United States to contest the Miss Heilala title.

While sophistication, beauty and glamour are important, the girls are also judged on their knowledge of the Tongan and English languages, Tongan culture and communication skills.

The one event which makes the festival truly unique is the

King Tupou IV...awarded a world peace prize on his 76th birthday

Miss Tau’olunga competition. The Tau’olunga is a classical solo dance traditionally performed by the daughters of the royal fam

ily and nobility.

Each aspect of the dance presentation is judged according to strict criteria by a panel of cultural dance experts. The judging takes into account costumes, movements, the grace, art, natural charm and beauty of the dancer.

Such is the importance of this title that it is regarded as pres tigious as the Miss Heilala title.

Apart from the beauty pageant, sports also play a very impor tant role in the Heilala festivities.

There are the usual sports like soccer, for both men and women, and rugby.

To provide that extra competition teams from neighbouring Pacific Island countries are also invited to compete. Other sports include tennis, cricket, golf, basketball, snooker, touch rugby, gamefishing, netball, rugby league, a fun run, tug-of-war and rowing.

Dignitaries from around the world visit the island to take part in the celebrations.

But the most spectacular event is the the festival of Tupakapakava, the traditional torch-lighting ceremony.

King Tupou IV is the guest of honour at the festivities which are marked by both young and old. King Tupou IV, 76, is a direct descendant of the late King George Tupou I, who was styled by historians as the founder of modem Tonga.

Bom on July 4, 1918, King Tupou IV was the eldest son of Queen Salote Tupou and Prince Viliami Tungi Mailefihi. He was educated at a special primary school established by the Free Wesleyan Church in Nuku’alofa. In 1927, he entered Tupou College at Nafualu, the first secondary school to be established in the South Pacific in 1866. The college was run by the Free

Wesleyan Church.

During his years at Tupou College, the Crown Prince was both an outstanding student and sportsman.

After completing his early education, he went to Australia to continue his education at Newington College in Sydney.

From there he entered the University of Sydney and became the first Tongan to receive a university degree. He gained a Bachelor of Arts degree and an LLB. A keen mathematician, the king is a member of the International Mathematics Association.

His interests lie in music and while minister of education in the mid-40s, he wrote a booklet on reading the English musical notation and its translation into the Tongan notation. The book let is still in use.

During his 16 years as premier he did much to firmly estab-

lish ties with overseas nations. The king has also received over seas honours. He was awarded the CBE in 1951 and in 1958 the KBE by Queen Elizabeth 11.

On his 78th birthday this year, the King was presented a world peace award. The award recognises him as a human cul tural asset and roving ambassador for peace.

He married Halaevalu Mata’aho on June 10, 1947 and the royal couple have three sons and a daughter. ■

The stoic and sombre Tongan military