Tuʻi Kanokupolu (chiefs) are a junior rank of the Haʻa Tuʻi (king's lineage) in Tonga.

Terminology

The Haʻa Tuʻi Kanokupolu are described as Kau Halalalo. Kauhala means 'side of the road' and lalo means 'lower'. Thus, Kau Halalalo is the lower side of the road. The term Kau Halalalo differentiates the Haʻa Tuʻi Kanokupolu from the Haʻa Tuʻi Tonga who are the most senior and sacred members of the king's lineage. In contrast to Kau Halalalo, the Haʻa Tuʻi Tonga are the Kau Halaʻuta, meaning the 'higher side of the road'. In Muʻa Tongatapu, the ancient capital of Tonga and the traditional residence of the Haʻa Tuʻi Tonga, the Haʻa Tuʻi Tonga lived on the higher, inland side of the road, whereas, the Haʻa Tuʻi Kanokupolu lived on the lower, beach side of the road. In Muʻa Tongatapu, the settlement was expanded along the lower, beach side of the road. During Inasi ceremonies, when tributes were brought from the various chiefdoms (districts) of the Tonga empire to the Haʻa Tuʻi Tonga, the Haʻa Tuʻi Kanokupolu would arrive in canoes and settle along the beach. After presenting their tributes (such as fruit), the Haʻa Tuʻi Kanokupolu would return to their chiefdoms. Tupou is the title given to the Tuʻi Kanokupolu.

Ngata, 1st Tuʻi Kanokupolu

The position of Haʻa Tuʻi Kanokupolu originated at the time of the Mo'unga'otonga, the sixth Tuʻi Haʻa Takalaua (king). Ngata was the youngest son of Moungatonga and Tohuʻia, a Samoan woman from Upolu who was the daughter of Samoan War Chief Ama of Safata. Ngata was sent to Hihifo district, Tongatapu, the western part of the Tongan empire, to govern the district on behalf of the Haʻa Tuʻi, the Tuʻi Tonga and the Tuʻi Haʻa Takalaua. Ngata was escorted by his uncle, Nuku and his cousin, Niukapu. (These events are depicted in the Ulutolu story). Ngata's venture was also supported by his mother's family, the Fale Haʻakili ('House of Haʻakili'). Throughout Tonga, the Fale Haʻakili are the traditional supporters of the Tuʻi Kanokupolu. Ngata married Vaʻetapu and Kaufoʻou, the two daughters of Ahomeʻe, a chief of Haʻavakatolo, Hihifo district. The children formed the first Tuʻi Kanokupolu chiefdom and resided in Hihifo. The chiefdom, the Haʻa Ngata, is divided into Haʻa Ngata Motuʻa (old Haʻa Ngata) and Haʻa Ngata Tupu.

Chiefs of the Haʻa Ngata Motuʻa clan

Atamataʻila, 2nd Tuʻi Kanokupolu

Atamataʻila was the son of Ngata and Kaufoʻou of Hihifo. He reinforced the office of the governor of Hihifo. When he married Tokilupe, the daughter of Tuʻi Haʻatuʻunga and the niece of Tuʻi Haʻamea, chief of the Central Tongan Empire. Atamataʻilaʻa daughter, Palula, was sent to be the wife of the eighth king of Tonga, Vaea Tangitau.

Mataeletuʻapiko, 3rd Tuʻi Kanokupolu

Mataeletuʻapiko was the son of Atamataʻila and Tokilupe. He married Papahaʻamea, a daughter of the Tuʻi Haʻamea, chief of the Central Tongan Empire; Fatafehi, a daughter of the 31st Tuʻi Tonga, Kauʻulufonuafekai; and Tuʻimala, daughter of the Tuʻi Tonga, Fefine, of the Tamahā clan. The children of Mataeletuʻapiko formed the second clan of the Tuʻi Kanokupolu, the Haʻa Havea. The Haʻa Havea is divided into the Haʻa Havea Lahi, the older Havea clan of central Tonga and the Haʻa Havea Siʻi, the younger Havea clan of the Vavaʻu Islands.

Chiefs of the Haʻa Havea Lahi clan

Chiefs of Haʻa Havea Siʻi clan

The Ha'a Tuʻi Kanokupolu's role is to take the responsibility that all the high Haʻa Tuʻi has for them in a royal funeral or wedding.

Mataelehaʻamea, 4th Tuʻi Kanokupolu

Mataelehaʻamea was the eldest son of Mateletuʻapiko and Papahaʻamea, the daughter of the Tuʻi Haʻamea. Mataelehaʻamea went to war with his father in law, the eighth Tuʻi Haʻatakalaua Vaea to established the Tuʻi Kanokupolu's control in central Tongan Empire. At this time, a number of social factors began to change: the Tuʻi Kanokupolu began to have power over the Tuʻi Haʻa Takalaua. The daughter of the Tuʻi Kanokupolu became the Moheofo (principal wife) of the Tuʻi Tonga (for example, Halaevalu and Tongotea wed Tuʻi Tonga). The Haʻa Tuʻi Kanokupolu became known as Haamoheofo: Haʻa means 'clan' and mohefo means 'principal wife of the Tongan king'. Mataelehaʻamea's son, Tuituiohu, formed the Haʻa Ngata Tupu clan in Vavaʻu. This clan became powerful in the time of Tuituiohu's son, 'Finau ʻUlukalala I, ruler of Vavaʻu and Haʻapai.

Chiefs of the Haʻa Ngata Tupu clan

Vuna Tuʻi oe Tau, 5th Tuʻi Kanokupolu

Vuna Tuʻi 'oe Tau was the second son of Mataeletuʻapiko. He lost the support of the Haʻa Tuʻi Kanokupolu and left to Vavaʻu to established his own chiefdom. Vuna Tuʻi oe Tau was also challenged by his nephew Tuituiohu.

Maʻafu ʻo Tuʻi Tonga, 6th Tuʻi Kanokupolu

Maʻafu ʻo Tuʻi Tonga was the eldest son of Mataelehaamea and Papa Haʻamea. The children of Maʻafu ʻo Tuʻi Tonga formed the Haʻa Maʻafu clan. Haʻa Maʻafu include the descendants of the Tuʻi Kanokopolu who do not belong to any other clan and the present day princes of the royal household. This community lives in the Kolomotuʻa (old settlement) and Kolofoʻou (new settlement) of Nukuʻalofa. His eldest son was Ngalumoetutulu by his wife Ate Fiunoa and Ngalumoetutulu was installed TUʻIHAʻAPAI.

Tupoulahi, 7th Tuʻi Kanokupolu

Tupoulahi was the son of Maafuotuitonga. He built a fort in Nukuʻalofa. He later resigned from the Tuʻi Kanokupolu because of a lack of support from other Tuʻi Kanokupolu clans.

Maealiuaki, 8th Tuʻi Kanokupolu

Maealiuaki was the son of Maʻafu ʻo Tuʻi Tonga. Maealiuaki retired at an advanced age and became the fifteenth Tuʻi Haʻatakalaua. He lived in Muʻa.

Captain Cook's observations

Captain James Cook visited Maealiuaki in 1777. Cook wrote: Cook also wrote about "Feenou" (Finau ʻUlukalala of Vavaʻu); "Toobou", chief of "Annamouka" (Tupou chief of Nomuka); "Tooboueitoa", king of the surrounding islands of "Kottoo" (Tupoutoʻa, high chief of Kotu and the surrounding islands of Haʻapai); "Poulaho" (Paulaho the Tuʻi Tonga) and his son, "Fattafaihe" (Fatafehi) who was about twelve years old at the time; and "Toobou" (most likely the Tuʻi Kanokupolu of the time, as they were addressed as Tupou). While Cook described Maealiuaki as "old and in retirement", he also noted that the Tupou was younger and going blind from an eye problem; that Maealiuaki and Tupou were brothers; that there was a peaceful interaction between all the chiefs; and that respect was paid to the Tuʻi Tonga Paulaho and his son, Fatafehi. Finau Tukuʻaho, left Vavaʻu to gather provisions for Cook. When Cook told Finau Tukuʻaho that he would follow him to Vavaʻu, Finau Tukuʻaho refused and advised Cook there was no safe anchorage in Vavaʻu. In fact, Vavaʻu has a good anchorage, which Finau did not wish to reveal to Cook.

Tuʻi Halafatai, 9th Tuʻi Kanokupolu

Tuʻi Halafatai was the son of Tupoulahi muʻa.

Tupoulahisiʻi, 10th Tuʻi Kanokupolu

Tupoulahisiʻi was the son of Tuʻi Halafatai.

Mulikihaʻamea, 11th Tuʻi Kanokupolu

Mulikihaʻamea was the son of Maealiuaki. He resigned and following his father, became the 16th Tuʻi Haʻa Takalaua and lived in Muʻa. In 1797, Mulikhaʻamea received George Vason. In the same year, London Missionary Society (LMS) missionaries arrived.

Observations of George Vason

Vason wrote:

Tupou Moheofo, 12th Tuʻi Kanokupolu

Tupou Moheofo was the daughter of Tupoulahi and the principal wife of the Tui Tonga Paulaho. Her cousin, Tukuaho opposed her marriage. It is said he came from his home on Eua and said, Tupou Moheofo was defeated by Tukuʻaho. He installed his own father, Mumui, the son of Maʻafu ʻo Tuʻi Tonga, as the thirteenth Tuʻi Kanokupolu. Vason described the incident between Tupou Moheofo and Tukuʻaho in 1797. Therefore, the incident must have happened some years earlier, as Mumui was already a king when Vason was in residence. Vason wrote,

Mumui, 13th Tuʻi Kanokupolu

Mumui was the son of Maʻafu ʻo Tuʻi Tonga. He was made Tuʻi Kanokupolu when his son defeated Tupou Moheofo. Mumui was the first Tuʻi Kanokupolu mention in the writing of George Vason and the LMS missionaries in 1797. Vason recorded Mumui's visit to the missionaries. He wrote, Vason reported the death of Mumui not long after their arrival. He wrote,

Tukuʻaho, 14th Tuʻi Kanokupolu

Tukuʻaho was the son of Mumui. He was a fierce warrior and a respected leader. He was elected Tuʻi Kanokupolu after the death of Mumui. Vason wrote, The LMS missionaries, who all stayed under the protection of Tukuʻaho in Hihifo, were then divided up into the districts and their chiefs. This gives a useful record of all the great chiefs in Tonga during this time. Again, Vason wrote, This quote indicates that the plan to separate the missionaries was approved by Tukuʻaho the Tuʻi Knaokupolu, who protected them in Hihifo. The plan was that two missionaries would stay with Vahaʻi in Haʻateiho; one would go to Muli (a lower chief) in Hahake; one would go to Mulikihaʻamea, the second highest chief in Tonga; and two would go to the Tuʻi Tonga at Muʻa. The three remaining missionaries stayed in Hihifo with the Tuʻi Kanokupolu. The record gives insight into the social hierarchy of the ruling parties. Tukuʻaho was the most powerful but not necessarily the highest ranked Tuʻi Kanokupolu. Mulikihaʻamea was the second most powerful chief of Tonga. At this time, he resigned to become the eleventh Tuʻi Haʻatakalaua. The chief, Vahaʻi, (later renounced in the civil war) was in Haʻateiho and most likely controlled the central region. The Tuʻi Tonga at Muʻa was Fatafehi, son of Paulaho, who was twelve years old during Cook's visit in 1777. Fatafehi had aspired to be elected as Tuʻi Kanokupolu to recover the position his mother lost to Tukuʻaho. Tukuʻaho was assassinated by Tupouniua and ʻUlukalala with the consent of Mulikihaʻamea.

Maʻafu ʻo Limuloa, 15th Tuʻi Kanokupolu

Maʻafu ʻo Limuloa was promoted by the Haa Havea (the House of Havea) and became Tuʻi Kanokupolu. The very same night, he was murdered by the members of the Haa Ngata (House of Ngata) who had supported Tukuaho. Fohe (ulu) . Ma'afu

Tupou Malohi, 16th Tuʻi Kanokupolu

Tupou Malohi was appointed after a long interregnum in 1808, when the quarreling chiefs finally put their differences aside in order to forestall the ambitions of Tupoutoa. But Tupou Mālohi was weak, not able to withstand the quarreling chiefs, resigned a year later, and went to Haapai. On the official list, Tupou Malohi retained his title until his death in 1812.

Tupoutoʻa, 17th Tuʻi Kanokupolu

Tupoutoʻa was the son of Tukuaho. The chiefs considered him an "upstart" because he claimed the title of Tu'i Kanokupolu but had not been officially recognised. Tupoutoʻa also associated with his assassins. The chiefs did not formally denounce Tupoutoʻa because they were battling each other. One of the most powerful chiefs, Takai, recognised Tupoutoʻa in 1813 but he was the only one. Tupoutoa died in 1820.

Aleamotuʻa (Josiah Tupou), 18th Tuʻi Kanokupolu

ʻAleamotuʻa was the son of Mumui. He became Tuʻi Kanokupolu in 1826 and was installed on 7 December 1827 in the Pangai at Hihifo by the Haʻa Ngata and Haʻa Havea. Aleamotua became a Christian and was baptised on 18 January 1830 by Mr Turner, a Methodist Missionary. He married Mary Moala in a Christian ceremony on the same date. He died in 1845.

Tāufaʻāhau, 19th Tuʻi Kanokupolu

Tāufaʻāhau was the son of Tupoutoa. Prior to his death, Josiah Tupou named two possible successors. Tāufaʻāhau was baptised and installed as "His Majesty, King George Tāufaʻāhau Tupou I".

His Majesty, King George Tāufaʻāhau Tupou II, 20th Tuʻi Kanokupolu

Her Majesty, Queen Salote Tupou III, 21st Tuʻi Kanokupolu

His Majesty, King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV, 22nd Tuʻi Kanokupolu

Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV was the son of Her Majesty, Queen Salote Tupou III and Chief Tungi. As a Crown Prince he was known as Tupoutoʻa and later inherited his father's title, Tungi. He ascended to the throne in 1965 and retained the title Tungi, while the title Tupoutoʻa was passed on to the Crown Prince.

His Majesty, King George Tupou V, 23rd Tuʻi Kanokupolu

He succeeded his father in 2006 and reigned until his death in 2012.

His Majesty, King Tupou VI, 24th Tuʻi Kanokupolu

After the death of his older brother King George Tupou the V he inherited the throne due his brother not having descendants.

External sources