Houma (Tongatapu)/en

Kai Kumā

"Kai Kumā" literally translates to "Eat Rats", the name derives from a time where Tonga was experiencing civil unrest. The Tu'i Kanokupolu at the time was slowly gaining power due to the power vacuum that had been created upon the previous Tu'i Tonga's death. The Tapu'osi's family, Ngata's (first Tu'i Kanokupolu so of the Tu'i Tonga) Samoan mother. Her family first settled near Mu'a where they were not well received by locals. For this they named their new home "Ta'ata'a mo Tonga" which means "to live among Tongans" in Samoa. Today it is known as 'Tatakamotonga'. Later Ngata gained power in Hihifo (western district) and moved to his new home, Kanokupolu.

A potential successor of the Tu'i Tonga was to be named after the previous Tu'i Tonga died from his battle wounds,however the male did not have any heir to the throne. Tapu'osi's family then saw to it that they may take this title instead rather than discussing with the chiefs in Mu'a. Tapu'osi's family and supporters had made the journey to the King's Koka tree in Hihifo to begin the ceremony.

The chiefs and their attendants of each village were present at the Taumafakava (kings kava ceremony) however, they were not pleased with Tapu'osi's ascension but were reluctant to act due to the civil unrest. Chief Vaea of Houma who is traditionally placed behind the Tou'a Eiki in the Alofi had grabbed a rat that came near the Kumete, bit its head off and and threw into the middle of the ha'ofanga. This act was seen as aggressive and challenged the legitimacy of Tapuosi to assume the title, although Vaea's act was unprecedented and disrespectful to Tapu'osi no one in the Ha'ofanga was willing to confront chief Vaea. For this the ceremony was stopped and Tonga did not have a Tu'i Tonga until the younger brother (Ngata's uncle) returned from battle in ʻUvea. Chief Vaea became a hero as he had helped shape the future line of Tu'i Tonga and was presented with a kahoa sisi made of rat skulls. Thus came the name, Houma kai kuma.