Ha'a

In Tonga, the time between a person's death (mate) and their funeral (putu) is one of the most important, as it is the last time that family and friends are able to pay their respects. When the King, Queen or high ranking member of the Royal household dies, this time is known as takipo (wake). For all others it is the 'āpo. During the evenings of the takipo (the 'āpo uses only the lights of the house), lighted torches are placed around the house, grounds or place where the body is, to keep away bad spirits until the burial.

During both the takipo and 'āpo, preparations for the funeral begin. When a member of the royal household or a Noble dies (pekia), the takipo is a large scale affair and funeral arrangements are made by the families. However, if the reigning monarch dies (hala), the Palace Office (representing the Royal Family) and the Prime Minister's Office begin making arrangements for a State funeral.

While arrangements for a Royal funeral are made during the takipo, the body of the King or Queen lays in State where is watched over by a Ha'a Tufunga (Royal Undertaker). Ha'a Tufunga's predominantly preside over the funerals of members of the Royal household, however, they can participate in the funerals of family, Nobles, Matapule (Talking Chiefs) and Government Ministers as designated by the King.

All Ha'a Tufunga also hold a Matapule title. Ha'a Tufunga titles are appointed or removed (the name can be taken and given to another) by His Majesty or Nobles, and they can also be passed from father to son. The majority of Ha'a Tufunga's live on Tongatapu, however, a small number live and carry out duties on the other Tongan island groups of Vava'u, Ha'apai and 'Eua. While all Ha'a Tufunga learn valuable skills from His Majesty, Ha'a Tufunga's whose title is passed on from father to son also learn their trade from their fathers. For others, they gain knowledge and skills from discussions with other Ha'a Tufunga. Knowledge regarding certain duties can only be shared between Ha'a Tufunga's.

It is believed that the first Ha'a Tufunga's were designated by 'Aho'eitu, the first Tu'i Tonga (King of Tonga) in 950 A.D. The primary role of a Ha'a Tufunga is to care for and watch over the body of the King or Queen until their burial. In death, the body of a King or Queen is topu tapu (extremely sacred) and the Ha'a Tufunga's have the honour of caring for the body in its final days before burial.

A Ha'a Tufunga's duties begin with the death of the King or Queen (or at the request of the King). The body is washed and prepared for embalming. Today, modern embalming techniques are used by medical professionals, however, historically it was the Ha'a Tufunga's who embalmed the body (tūkitoa). A special type of bamboo stick would be put in the body (at the heart or the like) and the blood removed. It would be replaced with nonu leaves and 'ahi (the body of a tree that has been ground into a powder). This embalming process would keep the body until the grave was prepared or family had arrived from the outer islands.

The body would then be dressed in a special type of Tongan cotton underwear or loin-cloth known as valaloto fakatonga, wrapped in ngatu and placed in a coffin (historically the body was buried only in ngatu/tapa). Those Ha'a Tufunga responsible for washing and dressing the body would become known as nima tapu (sacred hands). For those that were called nima tapu during the takipo, it signified that they had touched the body of the King or Queen and that their hands had become sacred and for ten days were not allowed to directly touch food (historically, nima tapu were hand fed by others - today they are allowed to use utensils) or other items.

In August 2006, His Majesty Taufa'ahau Tupou IV passed away in New Zealand where his body was attended by Lau'aki (the head of the Ha'a Tufunga and the King's Matapule) and Takapu, who became his nima tapu. During the funeral, fifty-eight Ha'a Tufunga attended to the tomb and associated funeral ceremonies.

Prior to the funeral, the Ministry of Works build a small fale (known as the Royal House) to be placed on top of the tomb as a symbol of the love of his family and the Royal household and that His Majesty will always remain in their hearts. Ha'a Tufunga's then decorate the fale in purple and black (the colours of the Royal Family and of mourning) and with flower arrangements.

During the funeral, the Ha'a Tufunga sit on either side of the stairs leading up to the tomb. Specific duties for each Ha'a Tufunga throughout the ceremony are designated by Lau'aki.

A selected number of Lau'aki's matapule (those that have Ma'u at the beginning of their name – usually related to Lau'aki), carry his Majesty's coffin to the grave and lower it by hand.

For the Ha'a Tufunga, burial is not the end of their duties. Following the burial there is the fahaipo (several nights). During this time, the Ha'a Tufunga's participate in kava ceremonies, visit ad maintain the grave and install the decorative barrier around it. During this time they also arrange the sand on top of the grave mound (fakafunga and fakapatapata) in preparation for the placement of kilikili (black volcanic stones) during the fakapoteau (100 nights)

The fahaipo is immediately followed by pongipongi tapu (kava ceremony held after a funeral). The new Monarch is in attendance at this pongipongi tapu and the Ha'a Tufunga sit in the kava circle to the left side. Following this, the fakapoteau (100 nights) begins where the Ha'a Tufunga's maintain the grave and grounds of the Mala'e Kula (Royal Tombs) in Nuku'alofa. Usually at the end of the fakapoteau, Ha'a Tufunga place kilikili (black volcanic stones) on the Royal tomb. On either the final evening of the fakapoteau or the one year anniversary of the burial a lali (wooden drum) or tutua (large log that tapa is beaten on) is beaten to let everybody know that the official mourning period is over and those that are still wearing black (black is the colour of mourning and is worn when a member of the family or village has died) can wear colour and businesses can continue.

Every morning and afternoon a selected number of Ha'a Tufunga go to the tombs and clean around it, cut grass and generally maintain the area. Their accommodation, known as Pola olunga (the Ha'a Tufunga stay in Pola olunga during the mourning period up until the Royal Household decide that their services are no longer needed) and meals are provided by the Royal Hosuehold. Today, five Ha'a Tufunga remain to maintain the tombs. They are:

1. Tu'iono (Tatakamotonga Village, appointed by Noble Tungi (Tupou IV)

2. Totohoumafisi (Tatakamotonga Village, appointed by Noble Tungi (Tupou IV)

3. Takapu (Fahefa and Popua Villages, appointed by His Majesty Tupou IV

4. Takavale i Mo'unga (Vaini Village, appointed by Noble Ma'afu)

5. Ma'u Langouifonua (Talafo'ou Village, appointed by Matapule Lauaki)

6. Malakai (Not Matapule or Ha'a Tufunga. He is the Ha'a Tufunga's caretaker) (Talafo'ou Village)

7. Lavemai (Not matapule or Ha'a Tufunga. He is the Ha'a Tufunga's caretaker) (Talafo'ou Village)

During the time that the Ha'a Tufunga's are in service, they participate in kava ceremonies inside Pola olunga in which only Ha'a Tufunga's may attend. These kava ceremonies begin in the morning and continue throughout the day until the last Ha'a Tufunga has returned to their village.