Ha'afeva
| Ha'afeva | |
|---|---|
| Waters | Pacific Ocean |
| Archipelago | Ha'apai |
| Geographical location | 19 ° 57 ′ S , 174 ° 43 ′ W |
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Ha'afeva is a small island in the Ha'apai Archipelago of Tonga and the main island of the Lulunga group of islands. The settlement on the island is commonly referred to as Kolongatata , a Tongan term for the strong winds that prevail here. The settlement is divided into the residential areas Hahake , Hihifo , Tuʻa Kolo , Loto Kolo and Uta . The island has about 200 inhabitants.
geography
Ha'afeva is about 42 km southwest of Pangai in the Ha'apai archipelago. In the vicinity of the Lulunga archipelago are the smaller islets Fono i Mukka , Kolo (Ogoroo), Letteoo Rock , Fetoa , Matuku and, further away to the west, Kotu and Putuputua . The island itself has a roughly bean-shaped ground plan and is closed off to the northeast by a fringing reef, which stretches to the southeast and includes three of the closest islets.
history
The island is the seat of the chief line of the Tu'uhetoka , (today connected with the Lasike ). Moatunu , one of the ancestors, saved Tāufaʻāhau I in a decisive battle, life and victory ( Battle of Velata (Haʻapai) , 1826). He supported Tāufaʻāhau against Laufilitonga , the last Tuʻi Tonga , after extensive persuasion had to be done. Moatunu was originally allied with Laufilitonga, but when Moatunu's sister threatened to go to war himself, he was convinced and gave up his loyalty to Laufillitonga. When Taufa'ahau was hit several times in the head and lay unconscious on the ground, Ha'afeva fended off all attackers until Taufa'ahau regained consciousness. He later received the name "Tuʻu-he-toka" (translated: "Standing while the chief sleeps"). With this designation one can show the peculiarities and gradations of the language well: If Tāufaʻāhau had been an ordinary warrior, the name should have been: “tuʻu-he-mohe”; if he had already been king at that time, the name would have been "tuʻu-he-tōfā".
The mutiny on the Bounty also occurred in the vicinity of the island in 1789 .
Ferry accident MV Princess Ashika
Ha'afeva was the scene of a disaster on MV Princess Ashika , an island ferry, which sank on August 5, 2009. Most of the lives of women and children were killed in the accident, as the men in Tonga usually sleep on deck, while the children and women are housed below deck.
archeology
On Ha'afeva there is an excavation site called Mele Havea , named after Mele Havea, the resident of the nearest house. Hundreds of early Eastern Lapita pottery sherds were found there between 1996 and 1997 , along with other artifacts. Radiocarbon studies suggest that it was manufactured between 2,690 and 2,490 years ago.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Ha'afeva at geonames.org.
- ^ Fears no women or children survived ferry sinking. In: The New Zealand Herald , NZPA August 6, 2009.