Ward Dinner at Fale Loa, on Foa.

We went to  a ward dinner at the Ha’afaka Henga Ward, in the village of Fale Loa, on the island of Foa.

We went with Peni Tonga, his daughters, and their auntie, who is from the small island of Mo’unga’on e. It is about two hours by boat from Ha’apai, and doesn’t have a harbor. 300 people live on the island. When outsiders visit, the boat stops offshore, and the people jump into the water and swim ashore.

We got to sit right next to the pig. I’m not sure if it was us, or the pig, who was the guest of honor. He definitely seemed to receive more attention.

The fruit that looks like an Asian Pear.  It is somewhat crisp and a little tart, but good. The Tongan name for it is fekika

Dorothy Tonga wanted only the head of the fish. As she sucked the eyes out, she smacked her lips in satisfaction. It’s all a matter of taste. I remember my mother sucking the marrow out of the bone, when she would eat steak, and my grandmother sucking the juices out of the heads of lobsters and crabs. And they were both Palangi!

The children are the highlight of our day.

These children stood outside, and were thrilled when we kept passing them snacks.