Tonga: Kava

Kava is an integral part of our culture. The legend of Kava stems from the greatest sacrifice a parent could ever give, their only child. From the grave of the child sprouted two new plants that had never been seen before. One was Kava, the other was the Sugar Cane. Lo’au (the king’s trusted advisor) then had the Kava brought and was used in the first official Royal Kava Ceremony.

It is a symbol of the sacrifices one would make for your King, Kingdom, village, and family. It shows your loyalty to the crown. It also represents our fonua (homeland/country) that we might always take it with us wherever we might live. In fact, our lawn that centers the village is reserved for any of our royal protocol or traditional gatherings that has and will transpire here at the Polynesian Cultural Center.