Viral on the internet since they were young, the Tonga sisters said their passion for music started because of their parents’ musical backgrounds and their innate love for music.
The sisters started off singing in Sunday services and baptisms, until getting the opportunity to perform on the Ellen Show. Since then, the sisters said they’ve definitely received more performance opportunities and attention from fans.
The sisters explained how even though singing is a career option and it’s something they are getting paid for, they only do it because they love it.
The sisters expressed their gratitude for being brought up in the church and raised by humble parents. Tiueti Tonga, the second oldest of five, explained, “We don’t try to run around and tell people, ‘We’re on Ellen, we’re on Ellen,’ but if they do recognize us, it does bring joy and excitement. It’s just an eye-opening experience being on a national platform, and for us, it’s a blessing.”
Putting God first
During their interview, the sisters often mentioned how praying before going on stage helped them to strengthen their relationship with one another, so they could remain unified as they performed and learned to balance their daily lives between school and social events.
Fifteen-year-old Lela Tonga, a student at Kahuku High School, said, “I think once you put God first, everything else seems to fall into place. People call it a coincidence, but we call it a tender mercy of the Lord. Things don’t just randomly happen, [they happen] because of something we did yesterday.”
Intention vs. attention
When asked how to keep their primary intention in mind while receiving attention from others, Alexsia Tonga, the oldest of eight children in the Tonga family, replied, “We keep each other grounded and keep it real with each other.
“I’m still overwhelmed when we are recognized by people. They are so excited to see us, ask us for pictures, and show their support. We are so grateful Heavenly Father put us in a place like the Ellen Show, so that we can represent our church and family.”
Alexsia Tonga shared how the attention she receives from fans somehow shapes her in a good way. “It makes me want to think twice before I say things, act, and post on social media. Also, it has driven me to do more and set the example for my sisters since I am the oldest.”
“We love being Tongan”
Most of the kids in the Tonga family haven’t been to Tonga yet, but they said they are glad to represent their people in a way. The sisters all wore a smile on their faces when they talked about their homeland. Tiueti Tonga said, “Though living in Hawaii, especially growing up in America, our parents preserve and teach us the [Tongan] culture. To this end, we are so grateful.
“We are trying to save money for the Pacific trip coming up. With living in a big family, things are not easy, so we are just saving money before we can go.”
Looking forward to the future
Though juggling school, interviews, and shows requires sacrifice from them, the sisters shared that the joy in pursuing their dreams definitely outweighs the challenges.
Lela Tonga said, “For me, I think meeting and communicating with the teachers about what’s going on has helped a lot. I also go to school after school hours when I come back from town just to catch up assignments or do one-on-one lessons [with the teachers]. Sometimes, running on no sleep is alright,” she joked.
The sisters shared how they have put lots of effort in planning their preparations for college. Tiueti Tonga explained, “We have all been talking about college since we were in elementary school, and as soon as we hit sixth grade we already established the dream schools in mind and understood what procedures we should go through.”
Elisiva and Nini Tonga are the youngest of the five sisters who both have dreams to gain an education before their music careers. Elisive Tonga expressed with excitement, “My first choice of college is Harvard because it’s the top school of the nation and very prestigious.
“Recently, I started to think more realistic and more around family, because then I will have resources to go off of. So, I thought of the University of Utah because my mom told me my uncle went there. I’ve always wanted to be a pediatrician, and I just love playing with the tools before the doctor gets into the room. It’s so fun for me.”
Due to their humbling experience of having the opportunity to pursue their own dreams, the sisters said they hope to influence BYU-Hawaii students to also pursue their dreams.•
Writer: Vic Zhong