With the recent tragedy striking Tonga, the Tongan Club members wanted to use their Culture Night performance as an opportunity to pay tribute to the people and the islands of Tonga who have been affected by volcanic eruptions and tsunami, shared Talamonu Tupou, president of the Tongan Club.
“When you go through hardships and hard times, you mourn, you’re sad about it, but when it’s done, it’s done. You get up, you fight, and you move on to face the next challenge,” Tupou said, who is a senior from Tonga studying business management.
Tupou said they also wanted to recognize their ancestors during the performance.
The girls danced to a song called “Hala Kuo Papa,” which means “a path well trotted,” Tupou shared. He said the song was composed by the late King George Tupou I and refers to how, when one uses a certain ground as a walkway for a long time, it then becomes a pathway for all to use.
Tupou explained this song is meant to be a tribute for their ancestors, as well for their first king. King George Tupou I “never once gave up Tonga to any foreign the friends of the English people,” Tupou shared.
“That is something unique, and it’s something that we Tongans take pride in: We have never been colonized.”
Ember Lusinde, a freshman from Indiana majoring in biochemistry, took part in the Tongan Club Culture Night performance and said the songs the they sang together was “a testimony of blessings and goodness from the people of Tonga.”
“It is a very uplifting hymn when sung as a group,” she shared. “You can feel the unity of the people as you sing and feel their testimony.
Filled with “energy, optimism, and aggression,” the boys then performed the “Taufakaniua.” Tupou said “tau” means “war” and “niua” is the name of one of the Tongan islands.
This performance is meant to be loud, with lots of noise and big movements as it is a war dance, Tupou expressed.
Towards the end of the performance, a Tongan hymn that means “little island somewhere in the sea” was sung.
Tupou said their land may be small, but “something to recognize is it is a powerful thing to come from the oceans.” He said he hopes the song ties them back to not just their home on land, but also their ocean as well.
Brooke Dutro, a freshman from Utah majoring in hospitality and tourism management, was also able to perform with the Tongan Club and said her testimony grew a lot while singing the hymn.
“The love I felt as I performed was incredible,” Dutro continued. “I developed so much love and respect for the Tongan culture, and I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to participate.” •