| This is a true story. This story is set back in the | | | | island of 'Uiha in Ha'apai, whose name was Malupo, |
| days, when Tonga was made up of three | | | | as they are kinsmen, both coming from the same |
| dynasties: the Tu'i Tonga, Tu'i Kanokupolu and Tu'i | | | | island of Ha'apai. Malupo had two sons, named |
| Ha'a Takalaua. They were all fighting each other | | | | Saulala and Haveapava. Malupo's wife Fatafehi, |
| (civil war) for supremacy, to determine who was | | | | was Laufilitonga the Tu'i Tonga's sister, so that |
| the most powerful of them all and consequently | | | | Malupo's sons were nephews of Laufilitonga. |
| become the only king of Tonga. | | | | Because of their connection, Malupo had no choice |
| This civil war went on for years, until there was | | | | but to give his sons to fight for Taufa'ahau |
| only two kings left: the reigning Tu'i Tonga | | | | against their own uncle, Laufilitonga! Before they |
| (Laufilitonga) from Tongatapu and the Taufa'ahau, | | | | left, it was said that their mother cried to her |
| the Tu'i Kanokupolu from Ha'apai. Tonga is made | | | | sons, pleading with them to remember who they |
| up of five main islands, namely Tongatapu, Ha'apai, | | | | will be fighting against, their own uncle, and if |
| Vava'u, Niua and 'Eua. The Tu'i Tonga of | | | | anything happened, please save him (who is of |
| Tongatapu whose name was Laufilitonga sailed to | | | | course her brother). |
| Ha'apai with his warriors in their wooden war | | | | Now they have come to the last part of the |
| canoes primed for battle to fight the Tu'i | | | | battle, which was to enter the Velata fortress |
| Kanokupolu of Ha'apai whose name was | | | | and the final surrenderance of power from the |
| Taufa'ahau. | | | | Tu'i Tonga to Taufa'ahau the Tu'i Kanokupolu. But |
| In those days, the best and bravest warriors | | | | as Puakatau and Taufa'ahau's warriors entered |
| were from 'Eua and notably amongst the best | | | | the fortress which means he will assassinate the |
| from 'Eua were the fierce 'Eua warriors who | | | | Tu'i Tonga, Malupo's sons remembered what their |
| were two brothers, Kaufana and Puakatau. | | | | mother asked of them, to spare her brother the |
| Taufa'ahau knew of them so he went to 'Eua to | | | | Tu'i Tonga and who was of course their own |
| ask for their assistance in his war against | | | | uncle. They turned around and stabbed Puakatau |
| Laufilitonga. Taufa'ahau went straight to Ha'aluma | | | | in the back with three spears killing him instantly! |
| beach where Kaufana and his brother Puakatau | | | | With the fortress in Ha'apai taken over and the |
| lived. As when two great warriors meet, they | | | | battle won, Taufa'ahau the Tu'i Kanokupolu is now |
| started off by "getting to know each other", | | | | proclaimed the King of Tonga. Taufa'ahau returned |
| engaging in a wrestling match on the beach of | | | | to Tongatapu victorious and as the kingdom of |
| Ha'aluma, where they soon realised that they | | | | Tonga's new King. He was later crowned |
| were both no ordinary Tongans due to their | | | | KingTaufa'ahau Tupou I, the first king to come |
| strength and fighting abilities. | | | | from the Tu'i Kanokupolu lineage or dynasty. King |
| Kaufana now realising that the man he had | | | | George V is the fifth Tu'i Kanokupolu. |
| confronted was Taufa'ahau the Tu'i Kanokupolu, | | | | Back in 'Eua, Kaufana heard about the victory at |
| paid his respects, and getting that out of the | | | | Ha'apai and how his brother had been killed by |
| way, they rested and introduced themselves | | | | Taufa'ahau's own warriors. Kaufana was very |
| properly and Taufa'ahau discussed with Kaufana | | | | upset and sailed to Tongatapu to confront the |
| why he came to 'Eua. Taufa'ahau wanted Kaufana | | | | new king. He reminded the king his promise about |
| and his brother Puakatau, to come to his aid in his | | | | his dead brother Puakatau, who led and fought |
| battle with Laufilitonga the Tu'i Tonga. Kaufana | | | | the battle so courageously, giving Taufa'ahau the |
| accommodated the Taufa'ahau informing him that | | | | victory over the Tu'i Tonga. Taufa'ahau of course |
| there was no need for both himself and his | | | | did not live up to his end of the bargain which was |
| brother to go to battle as he believed Puakatau | | | | to take Puakatau's body to 'Eua to his brother |
| would be more than enough to defeat Laufilitonga | | | | Kaufana. Instead, he ordered that Puakatau be |
| and his warriors. Kaufana also owned some guns | | | | buried at the royal tombs in 'Uiha, Malupo's island, |
| and firearms, so along with his brother Puakatau, | | | | where only kings are buried. The king of course |
| he gave them as well to Taufa'ahau, but under | | | | didn't know what to say but as Kaufana was |
| one condition. He made Taufa'ahau promise him | | | | escorted out, Kaufana retorted to Taufa'ahau: |
| that whatever happens to Puakatau in the war, | | | | "Kuo ke Hau pe, pea ke Kui", meaning, You gave |
| Taufa'ahau was to bring him back to 'Eua, even if | | | | me your word but your victory has blinded you |
| he died, Kaufana would like to see his brother's | | | | to the promise you made to me. In other words, |
| body as he wanted to bury him in their homeland, | | | | You got what you want, and you forgot all about |
| 'Eua with their ancestors. Taufa'ahau sailed off to | | | | our deal! |
| Ha'apai with Puakatau and his warriors from | | | | Kaufana sadly went back to 'Eua, broken hearted |
| Tongatapu and the firearms Kaufana gave him. | | | | because he will never see his brother Puakatau, |
| When they arrived in Ha'apai the battle was well | | | | the fearless warrior. Taufa'ahau wanted to reward |
| under way. This war was called the "Tau 'o | | | | his most outstanding warriors by knighting them |
| Velata" or "The War of Velata". As the war | | | | with the high rank of "noble" or lord. He posted his |
| progressed, it was obvious Taufa'ahau and his | | | | nobles throughout the country and even the outer |
| warriors from Tongatapu were winning over | | | | islands, except 'Eua. Up to this day 'Eua has never |
| Ha'apai and Puakatau the 'Eua warrior was easily | | | | had a noble from its own people. And even to this |
| leading the battle. As time went on and the battle | | | | day, nobles from Tongatapu or from the other |
| was drawing to an end, Puakatau was so fierce | | | | islands are appointed to be a stand-in noble for |
| and unstoppable. He was so powerful and | | | | 'Eua, even though they are not from 'Eua. This |
| impressive with his leadership in the battle that | | | | may explain why 'Eua is the least developed out |
| the people and the warriors were looking at | | | | of the main islands of Tonga. Indeed, this maybe |
| Puakatau as a potential king of Tonga. This of | | | | because 'Eua has not got its own noble |
| course caused a disturbance in the ranks and | | | | representation in the government and Parliament, |
| jealousy in the king. | | | | to stand up and speak and fight for what's best |
| Now when Taufa'ahau was gathering up men to | | | | for 'Eua and the people of 'Eua. |
| fight on his side, he approached the noble of the | | | | |