This is a true story. This history dates back to the days when Tonga was made up of three dynasties: Tu’i Tonga, Tu’i Kanokupolu, and Tu’i Ha’a Takalaua. They were all fighting each other (civil war) for supremacy, to determine who was the most powerful of all and consequently to become the only king of Tonga.
This civil war dragged on for years, until only two kings remained: the reigning Tu’i Tonga (Laufilitonga) of Tongatapu and the Taufa’ahau, the Tu’i Kanokupolu of Ha’apai. Tonga is made up of five main islands, namely Tongatapu, Ha’apai, Vava’u, Niua and ‘Eua. The Tu’i Tonga of Tongatapu whose name was Laufilitonga sailed to Ha’apai with their warriors in their battle-ready wooden war canoes to fight against the Tu’i Kanokupolu of Ha’apai whose name was Taufa’ahau.
In those days the best and bravest warriors were from ‘Eua and notably among the best from’ Eua were the fierce ‘Eua warriors who were two brothers, Kaufana and Puakatau. Taufa’ahau knew of them, so he went to ‘Eua to ask for their help in his war against Laufilitonga. Taufa’ahau went directly to Ha’aluma Beach, where Kaufana and her brother Puakatau lived. Like when two great warriors meet, they started “getting to know each other”, participating in a wrestling match on Ha’aluma beach, where they soon realized that neither of them was not a common tonga due to their strength and Fighting skills. .
Kaufana now realizes that the man she had faced was Taufa’ahau el Tu’i Kanokupolu, she paid her respects and getting that out of the way they rested and introduced themselves properly and Taufa’ahau argued with Kaufana why she had come to ‘Eua. . Taufa’ahau wanted Kaufana and his brother Puakatau to come to his aid in his battle with Laufilitonga el Tu’i Tonga. Kaufana accommodated the Taufa’ahau and informed him that it was not necessary for both he and his brother to go into battle, as he believed that Puakatau would be more than enough to defeat Laufilitonga and his warriors. Kaufana also owned some pistols and firearms, so together with her brother Puakatau, she also gave them to Taufa’ahau, but on one condition. He made Taufa’ahau promise him that whatever happened to Puakatau in the war, Taufa’ahau would take him back to ‘Eua, even if he died, Kaufana would like to see his brother’s body since he wanted to bury him in his land native. , ‘Eua with his ancestors. Taufa’ahau set sail for Ha’apai with Puakatau and his Tongatapu warriors and the firearms given him by Kaufana.
When they reached Ha’apai, the battle was on. This war was called “Tau ‘o Velata” or “La Guerra de Velata”. As the war progressed, it was obvious that Taufa’ahau and his Tongatapu warriors were winning over Ha’apai and Puakatau, the warrior ‘Eua easily leading the battle. As time passed and the battle came to an end, Puakatau was so fierce and unstoppable. He was so powerful and impressive with his leadership in battle that people and warriors looked to Puakatau as a potential king of Tonga. This, of course, caused riots in the ranks and jealousy in the king.
Now, when Taufa’ahau was gathering men to fight on his side, he approached the nobleman from the island of ‘Uiha in Ha’apai, whose name was Malupo, since they are related, both coming from the same island of Ha’apai. . . Malupo had two children, named Saulala and Haveapava. Malupo’s wife, Fatafehi, was Laufilitonga the sister of Tu’i Tonga, so Malupo’s children were Laufilitonga’s nephews. Due to their connection, Malupo had no choice but to give his sons to fight for Taufa’ahau against his own uncle, Laufilitonga! Before leaving, his mother was said to have cried for her sons, begging them to remember who they would fight, their own uncle, and if something happened, please save him (which of course is his brother).
Now they have come to the last part of the battle, which consisted of entering the Velata fortress and the final handover of power from Tu’i Tonga to Tu’i Kanokupolu’s Taufa’ahau. But when the warriors of Puakatau and Taufa’ahau entered the fortress, which means that he will assassinate the Tu’i Tonga, the children of Malupo remembered what their mother asked them, to forgive their brother the Tu’i Tonga. and that, of course, he was his own uncle. They turned around and stabbed Puakatau in the back with three spears and killed him instantly! With the fortress of Ha’apai taken and the battle won, Taufa’ahau el Tu’i Kanokupolu is now proclaimed King of Tonga. Taufa’ahau returned to Tongatapu victorious and as the kingdom of the new King of Tonga. Later, King Taufa’ahau Tupou I, the first king from the Tu’i Kanokupolu lineage or dynasty, was crowned. King George V is the fifth Tu’i Kanokupolu.
Back in ‘Eua, Kaufana learned of the victory at Ha’apai and how Taufa’ahau’s own warriors had killed her brother. Kaufana was very upset and sailed to Tongatapu to confront the new king. He reminded the king of his promise over his dead brother Puakatau, who led and fought the battle so bravely, giving Taufa’ahau victory over Tu’i Tonga. Taufa’ahau, of course, fell short of his part of the deal which was to bring Puakatau’s body to ‘Eua and his brother Kaufana. Instead, he ordered that Puakatau be buried in the royal tombs on ‘Uiha, the island of Malupo, where only kings are buried. The king, of course, did not know what to say, but when Kaufana was escorted, Kaufana replied to Taufa’ahau: “Kuo ke Hau pe, pea ke Kui”, that is, you gave me your word, but your victory has blinded you. the promise you made me In other words, you got what you wanted and forgot about our deal!
Kaufana sadly returned to ‘Eua, heartbroken that she will never see her brother Puakatau, the brave warrior. Taufa’ahau wanted to reward his most outstanding warriors by making them knights with the high rank of “nobleman” or lord. He sent his nobles throughout the country and even the outer islands, except ‘Eua. To this day, ‘Eua has never had a noble of its own people. And even to this day, the nobles of Tongatapu or the other islands are designated as substitute nobles for ‘Eua, even if they are not from’ Eua. This may explain why ‘Eua is the least developed of Tonga’s main islands. In fact, this may be because ‘Eua does not have its own noble representation in government and Parliament, to stand up and speak out and fight for what is best for’ Eua and the people of ‘Eua.