The King of Tonga’s only daughter, Princess Angelika Lātūfuipeka Napua ‘Okalani Tuku’aho, 30, will receive a marriage proposal next March from Lord Malupoo’s son, Hon. Makahokovalu.
News of the marriage proposal was confirmed to Kaniva News by Lord Malupoo’s herald in Auckland, Angakehe.
First, however, he will present her with a Christmas card just before Christmas.
Asked to give the details of what they will present with the Christmas card Angakehe, an authority on Tongan culture, explained what a Christmas card means in Tongan.
In Tongan a Christmas card is called a Kaati Kilisimasi.
However, when a suitor presents the Kaati Kilisimasi to a woman it is called “ Kaati” (card, which refers to Christmas card) or “ʻAve Kaati” (presenting the card to the woman).
It is the same idea used by westerners to present a Christmas card on Christmas eve but in the Tongan way when it is presented by a suitor to a lover it has a completely different significance.
The family of the suitor present koloa (fine mats and tapa cloth), ngāue (kava and hogs) and a sila (envelope full of money). They will also organize for entertainment to be presented.
The amount of koloa , ngāue and the sila presented is significant as it is meant to reflect the social status of the suitor, his wealth and to show how deep is his love for the woman.
Angakehe said Makahokovalu’s kaati to the Princess would be a formal Tongan presentation which would include a huge amount of koloa, ngāue and sila.
They would also perform a faiva (group dance).
Angakehe will lead Malupo’s kāinga to the Palace on the day, either on December 23 or 24.
“There will be no reference at this stage to the marriage proposal when I will address the king’s family through his herald about Hon. Makahokovalu’s Kaati,” the herald said.
“We will just present it and will come back as the princess’s family, on the New Year’s eve, will perform the custom of Tali (presenting gifts as a response to what had been presented by Makahokovalu’s kāinga).”
In February Lord Nuku’s son, Hon. Faka’osifono, presented his marriage proposal to the Princess.
The king will decide who he wants to marry his daughter according to the rules laid down by the Tongan constitution.
About Princess Angelika
Princess Angelika is the kingdom’s High Commissioner to Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea and Singapore. She is also ambassador to Indonesia, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and the Philippines.
She is also a member of the Young Tongan Traditional Leaders group (YTTL) and patron of the Tongan National Leadership Development Forum, the governing body of the YTTL.
High Commissioner is the term used to describe ambassadors accredited to other Commonwealth countries.
The main points
- The King of Tonga’s only daughter, Princess Angelica Latufuipeka Napua ‘Okalani Tuku’aho, 30, will receive a marriage proposal next March from Lord Malupoo’s son, Hon. Makahokovalu.
- Makahokovalu will first present her with a Christmas card just before Christmas.
- In February Lord Nuku’s son, Hon. Faka’osifono, presented his marriage proposal to the Princess.
- The king will decide who he wants to marry his daughter according to the rules laid down by the Tongan constitution.
