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Haʻapai is a group of islands, islets, reefs, and shoals in the central part of the Kingdom of Tonga. It has a combined land area of 109.30 square kilometres (42.20 sq mi). The Tongatapu island group lies to its south, and the Vavaʻu group lies to its north. Seventeen of the Haʻapai islands are inhabited. Their combined population is 6,125. The Ha‘apai group’s highest point is Kao, which is almost 1,050 metres (3,440 ft) above sea level.
 Map of Haʻapai | |
 | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Pacific Ocean |
| Coordinates | 20°0′S 174°40′W / 20.000°S 174.667°W |
| Archipelago | Tonga Islands |
| Total islands | 51 |
| Major islands | 17 |
| Area | 109.30 km2 (42.20 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 1,046 m (3432 ft) |
| Highest point | Kao |
| Administration | |
Tonga | |
| Largest settlement | Pangai, Lifuka Island |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 6125 (2016) |
| Pop. density | 60.53/km2 (156.77/sq mi) |
| Ethnic groups | Tongan (majority), European, Chinese, Pacific Islanders |
The administrative capital village of Haʻapai District is Pangai, which is located on Lifuka.
Geography
Haʻapai comprises 51 islands that lie directly west of the Tonga Trench. They constitute a chain of both volcanic and coral islands, including Kao, the highest point in the kingdom, which stands 1,046 metres (3,432 ft) high. Farther to the east are the coral islands, which are inhabited. The Haʻapai archipelago lies 204 kilometres (127 mi) north of Tongatapu and 130 kilometres (81 mi) south of Vavaʻu. Seventeen of the islands are inhabited, including the main islands of Lifuka and Foa. The two main villages in the archipelago are Pangai on Lifuka (where Salote Pilolevu Airport is located) and Ha'ano. A total of 6125 people live on the Ha'apai islands (Census 2016[1]).
All of the larger islands of Haʻapai are in the eastern Lifuka group. The two largest islands are Lifuka and Foa which have 2,205 and 1,392 people respectively as of 2016[update]. The next largest are Nomuka and Haʻano, which have four villages, with a combined population of 910. To the south of these islands is ʻUiha, which has two villages with a combined population of 695. ʻUiha is also the site of ancient burial grounds and an ancient monument.
The large islands of Tofua (an active volcano) and Kao (a dormant volcano) are in the far west. The islands of the Kotu group, locally known as Lulunga, are in the southwest of the archipelago. The islands of the Nomuka group, locally known as ʻOtu Muʻomuʻa, are farther south.
Humpback whales migrate to the area during their “wintering” seasons.[2]
History
Traces of ancient settlements of the Lapita culture, dating from around 1500 BC, have been found at sites within the Haʻapai island group.
The first European to visit Haʻapai was Abel Tasman, in 1643. Captain James Cook made several stops on some of the islands in the group in 1774 and 1777. He gave them the name of the Friendly Islands in 1777.
On 18 May 1777, when Cook arrived on one of the islands, accompanied by Omai, they were greeted by Fatafehi Paulaho, the Tu'i Tonga (meaning 'King of the Isles'), who was the most venerated of any chief on the islands.[3]
On 28 April 1789, the Haʻapai island group was one of the sites involved in the famous Mutiny on the Bounty: Captain William Bligh visited the volcanic island of Tofua shortly after his crew set him adrift following their mutiny.
In 1806, William Mariner arrived on one of the islands, aboard the Port-au-Prince. The crew of this ship was killed by Tongan warriors. Mariner survived, and lived for four years on one of the islands before he was found by a passing English ship and was able to return to England.
In 1840, the US Exploring Expedition visited one of the islands and met with George (Taufa'ahau), the chief of Ha'apai.[4]
See also
References
- ^ https://tongastats.gov.to/census/population-statistics/#22-60-wpfd-2016-1498707296
- ^ Amarula Sail. 2016. The last place on earth you would expect to find a vet!. Retrieved on April 05, 2017
- ^ Salmond, Anne (2010). Aphrodite's Island. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 408-412. ISBN 9780520261143.
- ^ Stanton, William (1975). The Great United States Exploring Expedition. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 187. ISBN 0520025571.
External links
Ha'apai travel guide from Wikivoyage