MALO E LELEI is how we greet one another in Tonga. I am a teacher at Taufa'ahau Pilolevu College in Pangai (city), Lifuka (island), Ha'apai (district) which is the central island group of about 70 islands. The Kingdom of Tonga consists of about 170 islands, of which about 40 are continuously inhabited. Tonga is in the South Pacific, southeast of Fiji, southwest of Samoa, and northeast of New Zealand. It is the last un-conquered monarchy, basically undisturbed (some might say unspoiled) for the last 3,500 years, when the inhabitants' Polynesian ancestors arrived from places west.

Those intrepid navigators probably originated in the Phillipines and Taiwan, taking to the oceans about 5,000 years ago, travelling south through Papua New Guinea where they probably encountered Melanesians. These peoples probably originated in Africa, travelling along the coastal areas of the Indian Ocean over 50,000 years ago, settling in PNG and Australia. The Polynesians probably stayed to the coastal areas of the islands throughout the Bismark archipelago, developing a style of pottery called Lapita. They travelled east over the next 1,500 years into Samoa and Tonga, and eventually reached Easter Island and even Hawaii (probably about 1,000 years ago).

By this time, they had given up the making of pottery (probably no suitable clay was found) but artifacts with the Lapita design serve to denote their travels in the Pacific, with some even found at Nihoa island in Hawaii. Lapita remnants found near firepits dating over 3,000 years ago have been found throughout Tonga, including in Hihifo on Lifuka island near Taufa'ahau Pilolevu College.

The Tongan culture is centered on family and the church. After the arrival of Wesleyan missionaries in the 19th century, nearly all Polynesians were converted. Their cultures seem to have found harmony with Protestant beliefs. On Sunday, it is against the law to work in Tonga. Everyone starts preparing the sabbath feast on Saturday, goes to church Sunday morning and spends the rest of the day with family. The majority of Tongans are Methodist, singing the familiar hymns daily (in harmony and from memory!) in school, at choir practice, around the house, and at gatherings.