Tonga sailing vacation, a sailing charter with the Manhattan Sailing Club.

The southern hemisphere humpback whales come to Tonga (mostly around the island groups of Vava’u and Ha’apai) between June and November with Aug-October being the best months. Last year they sighted about 110 individuals in the Vava’u Archipelago where I intend to sail our boats.

The whales come there to mate and give birth. We will sail in Tonga and meet with specialists to watch this unique spectacle, and literally swim with them.

sailing vacations 07 - Tonga sailing charter sail with the whales

The Kingdom of Tonga, or the Friendly Islands - so called by Captain James Cook, is made up of three main island groups – Tongatapu in the south, Ha’apai in the centre and Vava’u in the north. The group collectively consists of 170 islands, and only 37 of these are populated. Vava’u the northern group has sheltered water sailing, superb diving and snorkeling and many islands to visit.

sailing vacations 07 - Tonga sailing charter map

Tonga has a NNE/SSW orientation between latitudes 16oS and 23oS and longitudes 173o40 W and 175o20 W. The 176 islands ranging from high volcanic to low coral terrain create scenic variety seldom matched elsewhere in the world. The islands are divided into four groups and bordered on the east by the deep Tongan Trench.

sailing vacations 07 Tonga sailing charter islands

Vava’u is a great area to get used to the boat before sailing south. This is where we will pick up our boat. The airport code for Vava'u is "VAV".

Ha’apai about an 8 hour ocean sail south is especially unique as usually only yachts get a chance to roam around these spectacular waters. Long white sand beaches, great shelling, snorkeling, swimming. Both Vava’u and Ha’apai groups are the home to humpback whales in the season.

Tongatapu, where Tonga’s international airport is situated (TBU), is another 8 hour sail from the southernmost Ha’apai islands.

sailing vacations 07 Tonga sailing charter island

How to get there?

Well as you may have noticed, this is not a simple trip. You are simply going on the other side of the planet, West and South. For most of us this will be a once in a lifetime experience. So brace yourself, and try to use you miles because this means that this trip is not cheap.

The best solution seems to fly to LAX from wherever you are.

You don't have too many options:

One is to fly to New Zealand (Auckland) or Australia (Sydney). Then to catch a plane to Tongatapu (TBU) international airport, where you will then catch a flight to Vava'u (VAV) airport.

The other - it looks like the less expensive ($1500 from JFK), is to fly from LAX to Nadi in Fijii (NAN) with Air Pacific and then to take a plane to Tongatapu TBU, and then finally to Vava'u (VAV).

Note that there is no plane between TBU and VAV on Sundays. This means that you need to arrive in TBU before the last flight from TBU to VAV departing at 17.00 on Sat. Oct. 20th, 2007. This means also that we will have to leave Vava'u on Sat. Oct 27th to catch a flight back to TBU, unless you want to leave on Monday Oct. 29nd or later.

Note also that you are crossing the international date line. When traveling from East to West - as we will probably all do - a day will be added.

Finally, the time in Tonga is UTC + 13 hours with no DST. If it is 20.00 = 8.00 pm Wednesday in New York, it is Wednesday 5 pm in LA, and 1pm = 13.00 in Tonga on THURSDAY!

In order to pick the boat on Sunday morning, we need to arrive on Saturday Oct 20th in the afternoon in Tonga and therefore leave LA late on Thursday due to the fact that from LA you will have about 18h of flights if you fly via new Zealand and 12 hours via Fiji. This is without adding the time for transfer and commute...

In addition you will notice that few companies fly from New Zealand or Australia to Tonga (Air New Zealand, Polynesian Airlines, Pacific Blue) or from Fiji to Tonga (Air Pacific).

This is the only itinerary possible if you fly via Fiji. It is also the shortest and the least expensive.

From LAX to NAN (Nadi in Fiji). With Air Pacific. There is no other airlines, no others flights, only code share more expensive with Quantas and AA.

Dep. 10/18 at 23.30

Arr. NAN at 5.10 am on 10/20! Yes it will be already Saturday there.

Discover Fiji for few hours...then

Dep. NAN at 14.00

Arr. TBU (in Tonga) at 16.20

Then from TBU (the plane will wait ... but try to hurry though customs)

Dep. TBU at 17.00 with Tonga Airlines

Arr. VAV (in Vava'u) at 18.15 pm

As it will be too late to get to the boat, and that anyway we will be exhausted, I would suggest to get a hotel and to pick up the boat on Sunday morning around noon.

Here is the schedule for Airlines Tonga for Saturdays if you arrive earlier.

Do not try to find them on the web, their web site is not operational but we had regular contacts with them via email.

There is also another local airline flying between TBU and VAV. Check out Peau Vava'u.

For the return - unless you want to stay more in Vava'u.

We will drop the boat on Saturday morning and take a flight back to TBU to arrive before the only flight - with Air Pacific - from TBU to Nadi (NAN) in Fiji.

Dep. VAV at 0745 on Sat. Oct.27

Arr. TBU at 0845

Then

Dep. TBU at 1035

Arr. NAN at 1105 (there is one hour difference between Fiji and Tonga)

Then 10 hour of lay over in Fiji.

Dep. NAN at 22.00

Arr. LAX at 13.20 on Sat Oct. 27 - Yes we gain one day.

Prices.

You can fly Air Pacific all the way - with code share with major airlines - for $1536.00 leaving on Thursday Oct. 17 - returning Sat. Oct. 27, although we don't find the connection offered in LAX very practical for the return to New York.

Or you can Fly AA from EWR to LAX with a return on Sat. night for $285.00

Then Quantas - on the exact same schedule than Air Pacific (code share) for $1170.

Then Air Pacific from Nadi to TBU both ways for $444.00

We do not know yet the price for the flights from TBU to VAV but it has been said they it should range between $150 and $200.00 depending when they are booked.

Sailing courses available for this trip.

ASA Basic Sailing Class

ASA Coastal Cruising Class

Cost of a Sailing Vacation - Provisioning and menus.

The charter Cost with one or two classes is $2050 + classes cost.
Sailing charter cost without class is $2050
All classes are available at a special price of $500 per person (discounted from the $600.00 which is the normal rates at the school in New York).
Packaged classes (2 classes) are available at a special price of $1000.

Skipper fee, food and drinks, airport transfers from the airport to the boat and back at the destination, mooring and harbors costs are also included in the carter cost.

In the cost of the charter are included 7 breakfast/lunches and 4 dinners.

It is called split provisioning. It is organized 1 weeks before departure and you need to tell us about your preferences and food allergiesprior to this date. Thierry or the Skipper in charge of your yacht will prepare the provisioning before your arrival.

Alcohol + liquids (water and juices) and ice are also included. Although the cost doesn’t include bier and wine (except for the first day) that each crew will have to buy separately.

Why? Because not everybody drinks 12 biers a day, because not everybody drinks red wine or white, because some don’t like what Thierry buys… Because we don’t like to throw things away, because it’s much nicer to go to a restaurant after a long day of sailing allowing us to discover together OR independently (people do need a break sometimes) the areas AND the people around… Because we have done it … and it works.

For more information check provisioning and typical menu information

About Tongas

Nuku'alofa, the capital, is located on the main island of Tongatapu. It is more developed than its neighbors but still maintains an unhurried and peaceful lifestyle. Nuku'alofa mean "adobe of love"... With such a name there has to be something going on in the Friendly Islands that we don't know about. Most Tongans are warm and welcoming, but it's difficult to see how they could be otherwise when home is a series of lush Pacific islands, bordered by unbelievable beaches, surrounded by coral reefs, basking under a tropical sun. That's hard to beat. But there's a more active side to island life, with possibilities for hiking through Pacific rainforest to crater lakes and to the lips of active volcanoes, diving to shipwrecks and underwater canyons, abseiling down seaside cliffs or watching the local rugby team go through its paces.

sailing vacations 07 Tonga sailing charter beach

Among the few Pacific peoples never to be colonized, Tongans have maintained their customs and traditions while fervently embracing various brands of Christianity. You'll be welcomed on feast days, party and drink kava at festivals till you drop, be impressed by the Sunday church turn outs, and then escape to deserted beaches where, between snorkeling in untouched coral gardens and sipping coconut juice, the most you need to do is watch the waves slap against the shore.

sailing vacations 07 Tonga sailing charter beach wave and tree

Tonga quick facts

Full country name: Kingdom of Tonga
Area: 688 sq km (268 sq mi)
Population: 110,000
Capital city: Nuku'alofa
People: Polynesian
Religion: Protestant, Catholic, Mormon
Government: Hereditary Constitutional Monarchy
Head of State: Prince Lavaka Ata Ulukalala

King Tupou IV the absolute ruler of the South Pacific island nation for 41 years, died in September 2006.

His son, Crown Prince Tupouto'a, was sworn in as the new king at a brief ceremony on Monday, but it could be at least a year before a full coronation.

Although King Tupou IV was much loved by his people, his death is likely to fuel calls for greater democracy.

sailing vacations 07 Tonga sailing charter king palace

Economy

GDP: US$228 million
GDP per head: US$2,200
Inflation: 1.4%
Major industries: Agriculture, fishing and tourism
Major trading partners: Japan, Australia and New Zealand

For the Traveler

Visas: You only need a valid passport and an onward ticket to be granted a visa for three or four weeks upon arrival.
Health risks: There is some chance of hepatitis or bacterial infection.
Time: GMT/UTC plus 13 hours
Electricity: 240V, 50Hz
Weights & measures: Metric, except for land, which is measured in acres.

sailing vacations 07 Tonga sailing charter archeology

When to Go

May to October is the best time to visit. Summer, from November to April, is the hurricane season and can be hot, humid and wet. Large numbers of Tongans living abroad also return home in December and January, and it gets busy in the planes.

sailing vacations 07 Tonga sailing charter people school

Events

On 4 July Tongans celebrate King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV's birthday with the Heilala Festival, which becomes a week-long bash featuring parades and processions, music festivals and competitions. It coincides with the flowering of the heilala, Tonga's national flower. The torch-lighting ceremony, Tupakapakanava, coincides with this festival. People carrying flaming torches of dry reeds line the northern coastline of Tongatapu, and the Tongans liken the festival to Guy Fawkes Day in the UK or the USA's 4 July fireworks. On Vava'u, the Crown Prince's birthday in early May kicks off a week of partying with the Vava'u Festival. Also in May is the week-long Red Cross Festival, which is followed by the Red Cross Grand Ball.

In early June the Ha'apai group celebrates the three-day Ha'apai Festival, coinciding with Emancipation Day festivities. In a nation as Christian as Tonga, locals take Easter seriously, and celebrate an Easter Festival, with youth choirs, passion plays, concerts and cultural performances. All the major island groups host agricultural fairs from late August to October, and they are presided over by the king. Late September sees the Tonga International Billfish Tournament celebrated, attracting local and international anglers to Vava'u. Another international competition is the Miss Galaxy Pageant in Nuku'alofa. The contestants are all men, or fakaleiti, the local version of transvestites...

sailing vacations 07 Tonga sailing charter market

Currency and money

Local currency is the Pa'anga (TOP)

1 TOP equals about $.49 as of Feb. 28 2007

Relative Costs

Meals

Budget: US$2.50-6
Mid-range: US$12-20
Top-end: US$20 and upwards

Lodging

Budget: US$1-15
Mid-range: US$15-50
Top-end: US$50 and upwards

Basic food and accommodation are more reasonably priced than in most South Pacific countries, but forget about buying electronic goods, film or packaged foods. They're all imported and considerably more expensive than in the USA or Europe.

sailing vacations 07 Tonga sailing charter seahole

If you were not on a boat and were to travel by yourself, you would get by on $35 a day, $60-70 would make your trip comfortable. If you want top accommodations and restaurants, you'll need to budget $130 a day or more.

Tonga has yet to make the move to ATMs, but credit cards - generally Visa and MasterCard - are widely accepted. The currencies most commonly accepted for exchange are the US, Australian and New Zealand dollars and British sterling, although the Fijian dollar, Euros and Yen are also fairly standard currencies of exchange. The best is to use local currencies. For change use banks that are open from 9 am to 4 pm on weekdays. In Nuku'alofa and Neiafu they're open on Saturday mornings as well. Several of the mid-range and more expensive hotels will also exchange currency, but at a lower rate than the banks.

sailing vacations 07 Tonga sailing charter beach sunset

Tipping and bargaining are not common. According to custom a tip is seen as a gift and imposes an obligation on the receiver to return the favor.. If a price is asked, that's what the seller wants for it and it would be ill-mannered to suggest a lower price.

Attractions and places

Caving, both on land and underwater, is spectacular and easily accessible. Tongatapu has one cave, Vava'u has several and 'Eua has dozens of limestone caves. Exploring underwater caves is best on Ha'apai, which has a deep cave full of flashlight fish. With water temperatures around a pleasant 23°C to 30°C (73°F to 86°F) snorkelling, surfing, swimming and diving are great in any of the major island groups. Volcanoes, shipwrecks, canyons, coral reefs, a stunning variety of reef fish and visibility that in places reaches 70m (230ft) make the snorkelling and diving spectacular, and the surfing is as good at any time of year as it gets anywhere in the world. The surf's best on Ha'apai and Vava'u, and the best surfing on Tongatapu is at Ha'atafu Beach.

sailing vacations 07 Tonga sailing charter small island

The Vava'u group offers clear, calm and sheltered waters, and the Ha'apai group has a little more open sea. The whale-watching season is from June to November on Tongatapu and Ha'apai, and July to November on Vava'u. On trips to watch whales, underwater microphones catch whale songs for you to hear. Game-fishing charters are showing up all over Tonga, and you can also indulge in the less competitive form with a good book, a deserted beach and a long line.

Nuku'alofa
Sitting on a promontory facing the Pacific and backing onto the Fanga'uta Lagoon, Nuku'alofa ('Abode of Love') is gradually swallowing up surrounding wetlands and agricultural land, and shanty towns are springing up on the outskirts. You won't exactly get caught in traffic jams in the capital, but the 'pumpkin-led boom' of recent years has put a few more cars on the streets. Most of the town's main features are found within a compact rectangle.

sailing vacations 07 Tonga sailing charter tongan fabric

The Royal Palace on the waterfront is arguably the most impressive building in town. The white Victorian timber building was prefabricated in New Zealand in 1867 and has become a symbol of Tonga to the world, although it is closed to visitors. On the slopes of Mt Zion, just behind the palace, is the Sia Ko Veiongo, the 'royal estate', which, over its 600 year history, has been sacked repeatedly. Next to the palace is the Pangao Si'i, a public park used for kava ceremonies, feasts and Saturday sporting events. The Royal Tombs or Mala'ekula, contain the graves of all the Tongan sovereigns since 1893, as well as their spouses and close relatives. The town common contains the Tongan War Memorial, commemorating those killed in both world wars.

sailing vacations 07 Tonga sailing charter church

Many travelers tend to join Tongans at church on Sundays because everything else is closed, and the churches in town are impressive; you can't miss the Basilica of St Anthony of Padua opposite the royal tombs, where inside the stations of the cross are carved of coconut wood inlaid with mother of pearl. The Centenary Chapel behind Mt Zion accommodates more than 2000 people, and St Mary's Cathedral is worth visiting for its beautiful vaulted ceiling, stained glass and rose gardens.Yellow Pier is a great snorkelling site close to town, although it's not as spectacular as the reefs further out. If you're into markets you shouldn't miss Talamahu Market, which sells the best of Tonga's agricultural produce - it will give you a crash course in tropical fruits and vegetables. Go early to the Saturday morning flea market for the best selection of junk, treasure and collectables.

While you can eat well in the city centre, you shouldn't forget the resorts around Tongatapu and on off shore islands. The abode of love has plenty of good restaurants catering to all budgets and tastes, and you can visit one of the waterfront bars to kick off the evening. The Tongan National Centre, the International Dateline Hotel and the Good Samaritan Inn all put on great nights with island buffets and traditional music and dance, and if you haven't tasted the local kava (the stuff that dreams are made of) already, these places give you the chance to get into it (or out of it).

sailing vacations 07 Tonga sailing charter beach volcanic

Eastern Tongatapu
This one's for the history buffs, with what must be the largest concentration of archaeological sites anywhere in the Pacific. Pyramidal stone tombs at Mu'a were traditionally used for burying royalty, and there are 28 (15 of them monumental) at Mu'a. Just outside the archaeological site is a shallow ditch, which was once the moat surrounding the royal capital. Tonga's most impressive ancient burial site is at Paepae 'o Tele'a, thought to contain the body of Ulukimata I, who reigned during the 16th century. Tongan oral history preserves tales of the slave labour used to undertake this massive construction.

One of Polynesia's most intriguing monuments stands at the eastern tip of Tongatapu: the Ha'amonga'a Maui Trilithon. If you thought you'd had your fill of trilithons at Stonehenge, you were wrong, because one pops up here of all places. This trilithon was constructed at the turn of the 13th century under Tu'itatui, and each of the stones weighs about 40 tonnes (88,000lb). While speculation about the purpose of this one has been rife, when swathes of vegetation between it and the sea were razed, the sun was seen to rise and set in perfect alignment with the clearings at winter solstice. While you're in the area, the fishing pigs of Talafo'ou are quite a hoot; porkers that have learned to go searching for shellfish at low tide, putting a whole new spin on the concept of pork and seafood. The area is easily accessible by bus from Nuku'alofa.

sailing vacations 07 Tonga sailing charter beach palm trees

Western Tongatapu
Vanilla plantations west of Hufangalupe once produced Tonga's primary export crop, but vanilla has now been surpassed by pumpkins. You may spot red shining parrots at the Tongan Wildlife Centre Bird Park, which promotes conservation and carries out captive breeding of rare and endangered species. The Kolovai Flying Fox Sanctuary might remind you of a Boris Karloff movie, with hundreds of the nocturnal fruit bats hanging upside down from the trees. Or it might not. The bats are sacred (tapu) in Tonga, one of the few places in the Pacific where they are not eaten, except by royals who can hunt them for sport.

Keleti Beach is great for a dip, and a series of clear pools trap a variety of eccentric marine life at low tide. Near the village of Hoiuma you'll find the Mapu'a 'a Vaca blowholes, which, on a good day, will shoot sea water 30m (98ft) into the air. You could easily walk around the west of Tongatapu in a few days, but there are frequent buses from Nuku'alofa.

sailing vacations 07 Tonga sailing charter whales

'Eua
The second largest island in the Tongatapu group, 'Eua has a completely different character from Tongatapu. It is rugged and mountainous, with Tonga's largest areas of natural bushland and rainforest, and is great for hiking, climbing and abseiling. Tufuvai Beach has a lovely white sand beach and its reef makes a great swimming pool at high tide. The ruins of 'Anokula Palace on the top of 120m (393ft) cliffs give you a view of the whole island. Birds and flying foxes hitch a ride on thermal currents around the cliffs. Central 'Eua harbours myriad caves and sinkholes, and bush tracks crisscross the area. 'Eua's best beach is on the south coast at Ha'aluma.

Tofua
The site of Tonga's most active volcanoes, Tofua was also the site of the mutiny on the Bounty in April 1789. Although the island is no longer occupied, some of Tonga's best kava plantations are here, and are cared for part time by people from nearby islands. You can visit Mutiny on the Bounty Beach, where quartermaster John Norton was clubbed to death by islanders, if it really interests you, but the main reason to come here is the large freshwater lake. Near the northern shore there's good swimming beneath the rim of a gaping volcanic vent. Tracks lead through pristine rainforest full of bird life and gigantic ferns.

Off The Beaten Track

The Niuas
Many Tongans from the more southerly islands know more about New Zealand or England than the Niuas, the farthest flung of Tonga's island groups. Tradition remains strong on the three islands, and the trip up is worth it if not for the hypnotically beautiful beaches then for the friendly people who see so few tourists. You can climb the perfect volcanic cone of Tafahi, hike around the barren lava flows, swim in the beautiful Vai Lahi Lake on Niuafo'ou, and swim in the western waterways. Hihio is the sleepy capital of Niuatoputapu, and a plane from Tongatapu or Vava'u is the best way to get there. You must fly to Niuafo'ou as it has no safe anchorage, (from Tongatapu via Vava'u).

Vava'u's Southern Islands
The large, placid lagoon formed by Hunga and the neighbouring islands of Kalau and Fofoa looks like an enormous volcanic lake, but it makes an ideal anchorage. Cliffs on Hunga make an ideal viewing point for passing humpback whales. Foe'ata, just south of Hunga, has brilliant white sand beaches and fantastic snorkeling. Mariner's Cave is worth a look on the island of Nuapapu. Will Mariner was a boy working on the privateer Port-au-Prince, which islanders ransacked in 1806. Most of the pirates were massacred, but Mariner was spared and taken under the wing of the the reigning chief of Ha'apai for the next four years. On Kapa, the beautiful Swallows' Cave is inhabited by hundreds of swiftlets, which nest in its dim upper reaches. Despite the swiftlet droppings..., visibility in the cave's underwater floor is an impressive 50m (164ft).

Nomuka
Nomuka has been historically important to passing vessels because of its fresh water, but it is best recognized today by its brackish lake, which occupies most of the hilly interior. The island is ideal for hiking, but the villagers have a reputation for being a little more aloof than is the norm in the Friendly Islands. About 30km (18.5mi) west of Nomuka lies the volcanic island/pile of rocks Fonuafo'ou, which throughout its turbulent history has been measured at 2km (1.2mi) long and anywhere between 0m and 320m (1050ft) above sea level. By 1949, the island had collapsed and disappeared under the action of the waves. You may only see a few steam vents, or be treated to its more serious attempt to create dry land. Nomuka, in the Ha'apai Group, is not on any inter-island ferry schedule, but ferries do occasionally stop there, or you could take a seaplane from Tongatapu and land on the lake.

The Lifuka Group
Lifuka is composed nearly entirely of agricultural plantations surrounded by fantastic beaches. Swimming and snorkeling off the western shore are great. The wild weather on the eastern shore is buffeted by waves. The Olovehi Tomb lies at the southern end of the island, and it was constructed in the late 18th century for Nanasipau'u, sister of the reigning king. Many unfortunate commoners copped it in the neck here, to serve the princess in her (and their imminent) afterlife. Just south of the tomb is the 'Ahau Bathing Well, which in traditional Tongan society was owned by the chief. A little further south of that is the site where 3000 year old Lapita pottery has been excavated.

You can reach Lifuka by air from Tongatapu and Vava'u, or by boat that calls in on the Vava'u-Tongatapu run.

Weather in Tonga

It receives less rain than other tropical areas, and maximum temperatures average 80oF with only moderate humidity. The rainy season lasts from December to April when temperatures and humidity are higher (most extreme from January to March). The greatest number of thunderstorms occur in December and February. Annual rainfall at Nuku'alofa averages 58 inches, with as much as ten inches falling in April and as little as one inch in May and July. Vava'u is the wettest group. In contrast, during the Tongan winter (June to August), temperatures can occasionally be much cooler.

The period from November to April brings on the cyclone season. Tonga averages two tropical hurricanes every year (sometimes as late as May). Severity of thunderstorms, probability of cyclones, rainfall, and temperatures increase farther north in the kingdom. May to November are characterized by southeast trade winds, while easterlies prevail the remainder of the year.

Severe weather is usually preceded by west and northwest winds. During summer (especially from February to March), north winds bring heat waves and heavy rains. Wind speeds average 12-15 knots (slightly less in Tongatapu).

Tongan Economy

GNP is approximately T$35 million but up from prior years. (Incomes average US$4,000 per year.) All land is property of the monarchy, nobles administer and allot it to the common people. No foreigner can own land, although with approval from the cabinet, anyone can lease property for up to 50 years. Many foreigners have taken advantage of this opportunity, and small foreign-owned businesses such as guesthouses, restaurants, and small resorts are prevalent throughout the kingdom.

Most government and light industries are concentrated in Nuku'alofa. More than 25% of the country's population lives in the capital, with hundreds commuting from outlying areas. Half the population is involved in the cash economy, the rest live from subsistence agriculture, fishing, and collecting. Most Tongans grow their own food, build their own homes, and make their own woven handcrafts and various household products (such as tapa, handbags, baskets, place mats, and brooms). So much in Tonga is made by hand that the aggregate value of all these goods exceeds the total of all goods sold for cash. Food staples are yams, taro, manioc, and sweet potatoes. In many villages, humans are outnumbered by domestic pigs, which range freely across the islands.

The biggest cash crop is pumpkin squash. Introduced to the islands in 1987, it has become Tonga's biggest export (shipped primarily to Japan). Tongan pumpkins supply about half of Japan's requirements. During the harvest season in October and November, commercial vessels flow steadily in and out of Queen Salote Wharf.

Tongan Population

Tonga is peopled with large families and a burgeoning young population. Though it is one of the most densely populated countries in the Pacific, population figures remain stable due largely to emigration. Thousands of Tongans have left (many permanently) to provide support to their families, 24,000 reside in New Zealand, 10,500 in the U.S., and 4,500 in Australia. Money remitted by Tongans living abroad is the country's primary source of income. With so many Tongans expatriated, flights into and out of the country during the holidays are normally sold out many months in advance.

| Links