Tonga on Saturday began a week of celebrations to mark the upcoming coronation of the Pacific nation's monarch, King Tupou VI, with an ancient ceremony involving the mildly narcotic drink kava. The ...

an ancient Tongan title that pre-dates the monarchy by centuries. Celebrations and ancient rituals leading up to the coronation began last Saturday with a Taumafa Kava, a traditional ceremony in ...

Celebrations marking the coronation of the King of Tonga have begun with a traditional ceremony in the South Pacific ... and the traditional bowl of kava, made from pounded roots. The gifts are said ...

Trade with Tonga was non-existent at that time but ... In the islands, a visiting dignitary is greeted with lavish gifts and a kava ceremony. Kava is a local beverage that must be prepared and ...

ABC Pacific is the trusted voice in the Pacific, connecting our neighbours with news, music, sport and conversations for all ages. More from ABC We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...

Stepping off the plane in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, the two photographers had no idea ... where the king drank the kava during the historical Kava Ceremony. Though the men had been given access by the queen, ...

Siaosi Tupou V was crowned king of Tonga today in a lavish, pomp-filled ceremony attended by royalty ... Siaosi was offered a bowl of kava, a mild narcotic drink made from plant roots, to signify ...

SALT LAKE CITY — From Tongan kava ceremonies to Hawaiian Kanikapila music jams, 2022's Utah Pacific Island Heritage Month has a lot to offer. This year marks a decade since former Gov.

The new king also becomes the 24th Tu'i Kanokupolu, an ancient Tongan title that pre-dates the monarchy by centuries. Celebrations and ancient rituals leading up to the coronation began last Saturday ...