Haʻapai

Haʻapai

Map of Haʻapai
Geography
Location	Pacific Ocean
Coordinates	20°0′S 174°40′W
Archipelago	Tonga Islands
Total islands	51
Major islands	17
Area	109.30 km^2 (42.20 sq mi)
Highest elevation	1,046 m (3432 ft)
Highest point	Kao
Administration
Tonga
Largest settlement	Pangai, Lifuka Island
Demographics
Population	5,419[1] (2021)
Pop. density	60.53/km^2 (156.77/sq mi)
Ethnic groups	Tongan (majority), European, Chinese, other Pacific Islanders

Location of Haʻapai District in Tonga

Haʻapai is a group of islands, islets, reefs, and shoals in the central part of Tonga. It has a combined land area of 109.30 square kilometres (42.20 sq mi). The Tongatapu island group lies to its south, and the Vavaʻu group lies to its north. Seventeen of the Haʻapai islands are inhabited. Their combined population is 5,419. The highest point in the Ha‘apai group, and in all of Tonga, is on Kao, which rises almost 1,050 metres (3,440 ft) above sea level.

The administrative capital village of Haʻapai District is Pangai, which is located on Lifuka.

Geography

Lifuka Island, capital of Haʻapai

Haʻapai comprises 51 islands that lie directly west of the Tonga Trench. They constitute a chain of both volcanic and coral islands, including Kao, the highest point in the kingdom, which stands 1,046 metres (3,432 ft) high. Farther to the east are the coral islands, which are inhabited. The Haʻapai archipelago lies 204 kilometres (127 mi) north of Tongatapu and 130 kilometres (81 mi) south of Vavaʻu. Seventeen of the islands are inhabited, including the main islands of Lifuka and Foa. The two main villages in the archipelago are Pangai on Lifuka (where Salote Pilolevu Airport is located) and Ha'ano. A total of 6125 people live on the Ha'apai islands (Census 2016^[2]).

All of the larger islands of Haʻapai are in the eastern Lifuka group. The two largest islands are Lifuka and Foa which in 2016 had recorded populations of 2,205 and 1,392 people respectively. The next largest are Nomuka and Haʻano, which have four villages, with a combined population of 910. To the south of these islands is ʻUiha, which has two villages with a combined population of 695. ʻUiha is also the site of ancient burial grounds and an ancient monument.

The large islands of Tofua (an active volcano) and Kao (a dormant volcano) are in the far west. The islands of the Kotu group, locally known as Lulunga, are in the southwest of the archipelago. The islands of the Nomuka group, locally known as ʻOtu Muʻomuʻa, are farther south. The Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai volcano is located in the southwest of Haʻapai.

Humpback whales migrate to the area during their “wintering” seasons.^[3]

History

Downtown Pangai, Lifuka Island

Traces of ancient settlements of the Lapita culture, dating from around 1500 BC, have been found at sites within the Haʻapai island group.

The first European to visit Haʻapai was Abel Tasman, in 1643. Captain James Cook made several stops on some of the islands in the group in 1774 and 1777. He gave them the name of the Friendly Islands in 1777.

On 18 May 1777, when Cook arrived on one of the islands, accompanied by Omai, they were greeted by Fatafehi Paulaho, the Tu'i Tonga (meaning 'King of the Isles'), who was the most venerated of any chief on the islands.^[4]

On 28 April 1789, the Haʻapai island group was one of the sites involved in the famous Mutiny on the Bounty: Captain William Bligh visited the volcanic island of Tofua shortly after his crew set him adrift following their mutiny.

In 1806, William Mariner arrived on one of the islands, aboard the Port-au-Prince. The crew of this ship was killed by Tongan warriors. Mariner survived, and lived for four years on one of the islands before he was found by a passing English ship and was able to return to England.

In 1840, the US Exploring Expedition visited one of the islands and met with George (Taufa'ahau), the chief of Ha'apai.^[5]

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1976	10,792	—
1986	8,919	−17.4%
1996	8,138	−8.8%
2006	7,570	−7.0%
2011	6,616	−12.6%
2016	6,125	−7.4%
2021	5,419	−11.5%
Sources:[6][7][1]

Governors

• Havea Tu‘iha‘angana
• Moʻale Finau (appointed February 2015)^[8]
• Tēvita Mohenoa Puloka (appointed 26 June 2018)^[9]
• Viliami Hingano (appointed 25 January 2021)^[10]
• Pita Faiva Taufatofua (appointed 28 December 2021)^[11]

See also

• Mataʻuvave
• 2006 Tonga earthquake
• 2022 Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai eruption and tsunami
• List of islands and towns in Tonga

References

1. "Tonga's population drops to 100,209". Matangi Tonga. 24 December 2021. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
2. "Population and Housing Census | Tonga Statistics Department".
3. Amarula Sail. 2016. The last place on earth you would expect to find a vet!. Retrieved on April 05, 2017
4. Salmond, Anne (2010). Aphrodite's Island. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 408-412. ISBN 9780520261143.
5. Stanton, William (1975). The Great United States Exploring Expedition. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 187. ISBN 0520025571.
6. "1996 Tonga Census Administrative Report". Tonga Department of Statistics. p. xii. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
7. "Census". Tonga Statistics Department. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
8. "Commoner becomes governor of Tonga's Ha'apai". Radio New Zealand International. 9 February 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
9. "King officially appoints MP Ma'asi as Minister, Dr Puloka as Ha'apai governor". Kaniva Tonga. 26 June 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
10. "King confirms key government appointments". Fāngongo. 25 January 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
11. "PM names new government". Matangi Tonga. 29 December 2021. Archived from the original on 29 December 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2021.

External links

• Ha'apai travel guide from Wikivoyage

19°45′S 174°22′W