Tuʻi Kanokupolu
Terminology. The are described as . means 'side of the road' and means 'lower'. Thus, is the lower side of the road. The term differentiates the from the who are the most senior and sacred members of the king's lineage. In contrast to , the are the , meaning the 'higher side of the road'. In Muʻa Tongatapu, the ancient capital of Tonga and the traditional residence of the , the lived on the higher, inland side of the road, whereas, the 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 , the would arrive in canoes and settle along the beach. After presenting their tributes (such as fruit), the would return to their chiefdoms. Ngata, 1st "Tuʻi Kanokupolu". The position of originated at the time of the Moungatonga, 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 , the Tuʻi Tonga and the . Ngata was escorted by his uncle, Nuku and his cousin, Niukapu. (These events are depicted in the story). Ngata's venture was also supported by his mother's family, the ('House of Haʻakili'). Throughout Tonga, the are the traditional supporters of the . Ngata married Vaʻetapu and Kaufoʻou, the two daughters of Ahomeʻe, a chief of Haʻavakatolo, Hihifo district. The children formed the first chiefdom and resided in Hihifo. The chiefdom, the , is divided into (old Haʻa Ngata) and . 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. Mataeleutuʻapiko, 3rd Tuʻi Kanokupolu". Mataeleutuʻapiko 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 Tahama clan. The children of Mateletuʻapiko formed the second clan of the , the . The is divided into the , the older Havea clan of central Tonga and the , the younger Havea clan of the Vavaʻu Islands. The 's role is to take the responsibility that all the high 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": means 'clan' and 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'. Vunu  Tuʻi oe Tau, 5th "Tuʻi Kanokupolu". Vunu Tuʻi oe Tau was the second son of Mataele tuʻapiko. He lost the support of the and left Vavaʻu to established his own chiefdom. Vunu 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 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 . Tupoulahi, 7th "Tuʻi Kanokupolu". Tupoulahi was the son of Maafuoutitonga. He built a fort in Nukuʻalofa. He later resigned from the because of a lack support from other clans. Maealiuaki, 8th "Tuʻi Kanokupolu". Maealiuaki was the son of Maʻafu ʻo Tuʻi Tonga. Maealiuka retired at an advanced age and became the fifteenth . 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 Halfatai 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, become the 16th 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". Tupoutʻa was the son of Tukuaho. The chiefs considered him an "upstart" because he claimed the title of tui  kanokupolu but had not been officially recognised. Tupoutʻa also associated with his assassins. The chiefs did not formally denounce Tupoutʻa because they were battling each other. One of the most powerful chiefs, Takai, recognised Tupoutʻa 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 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.