Sunday in HaaPai

Sunday included an invitation to dress properly and attend church, another huge lunch feast, more beaches, a Kava circle and lots more sunshine.

HaaPai Island

 A 35 minute ride on a small plane from the main island of TongaTapu and the town of Nuku'Afalo is Sione's home island of HaaPai.  It is tiny, with 1500 people, but rich in culture, history and, of course, characters.

Not sure, but this might be Michael relaxing on a beach on an island in the South Pacific.

Arrival at HaaPai tiny airport where Michael and Sione were waiting in background.

Sione promised me this spider was not poisonous, but I was not buying it.

I am convinced this is a standard kava planter.

Some how I don't feel any more protected.

Talk about the Hippocratic oath, Dr. Kate if you are out there, I am convinced I still have some residue from my trip to Africa in September, and Sione convinced me to go to the local HaaPai hospital (8 beds) and then he called the doctor, who was off this day and out working his fields.  The dude, Dr. Davida came in and gave me some drugs to fight who knows what.  Michael, of course, found it necessary to photograph my humility.  The care was first rate.

The main general store on HaaPai.  Everybody grows most of their own food, everything else arrives by daily fairy from the main island.

The splendid and gracious Mrs. Tapu, Sione's mom.  Never spoken a word of English in her life and made us feel entirely welcome.

I love coconut water, and buy mine on Amazon, but not this week.  This is a fresh coconut from Sione's yard full of splendid nectar.

Little swim in the South Pacific

Host Sione had some business to take care of so a good day to take a swim in the crystal clear South Pacific.

Local Old Boys singers and a sunset

This a group of local old boys who get together each Christmas and travel around in a truck and sing great songs.  This particular song is about the origins of Kava.

Sione takes us around the island

Day 3,  Wonderful, gracious host Sione takes the palangis (the polite Tongan word for "visitors" Michael and I) all over the island.  What a treat.  Tapu Poultry is Sione's chicken farm.  All 6,000 of them.  We did get to see the infamous Kava plant growing in pots along the road, and harbors, and pigs grazing in the harbor, and beautiful landscapes and everything else possible in this paradise, Nuku'Alofa Tonga.

Sione Tapu eggs on shelf in market

Nothing good can come of this.

Sione's cow did not like me.

Little helper at Tapu Poultry Farm

6000 chickens, so many eggs.

Popular Toyota van named for Nephew Noah

Sione and his eggs

Arrived

Siones children at Tapu Farm billboard

Kava plants for sale.  Oh my, oh my.

Smart little pit grazing on the ocean floor.

Merry Christmas