Hala 'o Vave ( TONGA)

HALA 'O VAVE or The Urgency Road.

It was the first and the only public road ever constructed in Tonga, that was based on a religious ground. It covered few kilometres in length.

It stretched from the borderline of Hihifo (Western side of Tongatapu)and Kolomotu'a toNuku'alofa (the current capital of Tongatapu).

Nuku'alofa was a part of Kolomotu'a during the early 19th century.

Hala 'o Vave was located in Kolomotu'a, Tongatapu. Kolomotu'a is located in the isthmus of Tongatapu(main island of Tonga) facing the north of Pacific Ocean.

Hala 'o Vave was constructed in the early 1820s and it was specifically used as an escape way for those who wanted to accept Christianity and rejected the traditional religion.

Kolomotu'a did play the role as a 'refuge' for those who accepted, Christianity or escaped frombeing killed/ persecuted. Because Kolomotu'a was the Royal family estate, the persecutors/pursuers usually refrain from pursuing their victim(s) in the estate.

Hala 'o Vave Road was marked by a continuous rows of Polynesian chestnut trees ( grown on both sidesof the road). Kolomotu'a was the royal estate of
King Mumui Tu'iKanokupolu and wife Her Royal Highness Fatafehi 'o Lapaha, the last female Ruler of the Tu'iTonga dynasty.

King Aleamotu'a (third son of King Mumui) was Tu'iKanokupolu, during that period (1820- 1830).Hala 'o Vave continues it's purpose as an 'escape way' into the reigning periodof King Siosaia Tupou, 1830-45 (Namoa a.k.a. Tupou).

The current Hala 'o Vave, is still a public road in Kolomotu'a but it is much shorter in distance, and much less than two kilometre in length. It's initial purpose as an escape way, no longer exists.

REFERENCES/ SOURCES:

Kurt During, Pathways To The Tongan Present (1990).

Tohi Mahina oe Buleanga o TOGA (1880)

Rowe.G.Stringer, A Pioneer, A Memoir of the Rev. John Thomas (1885).

Dillon,R.A. (1984), Hala-'o-Vave: A study of Settlement in a Low Lying Marsh of Nuku'alofa Tonga.

www.TNews.co.NZ/ forum/showthread/ Hala-'o-Vave.

*REDIRECT [Hala 'o Vave (TONGA).

Category: TONGA History.