Kolofo'ou [Laione] Lakalaka for Royal Luncheon 02/08/08

Kailao

Kailao are perform by boys only. These special dance are the spirit of going to wars in the old days, how the Tongan in the old days fight amounts them.

Kailao are special because the leader of the group has to select only the brave and body building young man to perform. Because of the tradition and history of this dance kailao everyone has to be fit in order to perform well in this special dance. Kailao are perform using a special stick call "PATE KAILAO" this show how they go to war in the old days with weapon to kill the enemies.

Kailao is unique because there is no music or song play it's only a piece of aluminum is played by someone that know the special way of playing so that all the performer know when to start and stop.

Kailao are special traditional dance taht always perform by the Tongan College in Tonga when there is a big occasion happen, like the King Coronation or Birthday. Kailao are also known as war dance.

Me'etu'upaki

Me'etu'upaki is a standing up dance that only boys perform. This dance where establish in the old days how people migrate from place to palce by canoe. This special dance are perform using a stick and they perform follow the leader as the captain of the ship.

Me'etu'upaki are perform and show how the canoe sailing and how every member of the ship has to play an important role in order to reach their destination safe and sound. The custom for this particular dance are the "NGATU" or the Tongan Tapa also known in Fiji the Taunamu, also the special "LOU SI" it's a green leaf that mother's has to weave for their son or husband when they are part of the Me'etu'upaki.

Me'etu'upaki are perform in big occation in Tonga and around the world where boys and men show and proud of the ancient days.

Tau'olunga Faka-Tokolahi (Group Dance)

Group Dance is performed only by young girls. This type of dance stated in the spirit of working together. This dance are group of girls that are learning together and practice so many time so when the event day come they already know each "HAKA" action for every verse.

Group Dance or "Tau'olunga Faka-Tokolahi" is unique when dancer perform to the best and the spirit will overflow. There is a saying from the side "VELA FALELOA" this means that the viewer or the audience fell the spirit of working together and the sirit from the dancer are of one sirit and happiness.

Group Dance highlighted by the same custom that the girls wore also the shining of the Tongan Vergin Oil from their skin shows that they are still holy and young. Tau'olunga are perform to show appreciation and thanks for work done or beginning of a new journey either in life or a project.

Group Dance are highlight by the flow of the dancer hand and swing of the body also the look of their beautiful young faces and the smiling faces brighten the performer. Tau'olunga is done in very unique way and various way according to any occasion.

HIKO

Hiko is a girls dance while one group has to wear traditinal custom and the other group has to ware "manafau" the wrap around plastic on the waist.

Hiko is perform by young and vergin girls in big occation in Tonga and all over the world. Hiko are like showing how girls like to sing and play with friends and family. This special dance show that the girls that sitting down are goping with "tuitui" a special type of fruits that show how happy they are to play with their friends and relative from their neighbours, while the other group are dancing and show how happy they are to dance and share every moment they are together with all thier friends and family.

Hiko are most perform by one of the girls school in Tonga name after the late Queen Salote. In any big occation that happent Queen Salote College has to perform this dance and it's still have the high quality and respect for the late Queen while QSC student perform.

Hiko is still perform by Tongan girls all over the world and they are still proud of there Late Beloved Queen.

Mako

Mako "WAR DANCE" is only performed by boys and young man. This dance is unique and very popular when it's perform by the Tongan boys.

Mako or known as war dance are ways of rembering the old days when Maafu the King of Tonga try to win all of Tonga and rule them all. War Dance are perform most at night time becuase that's the only time that will show the main purpose of the dance.

Mako has it's own song which talking about the old days how Tongan people fight for land and peace for their people. There will be a lead person that shoud and lead they to know the time to start just like the war when the comador direct his army to attack.

This dance custom they have to ware leaves only without shirt or anything it's a image of going to war is letting go and if you come back home or not you die for your country. Mako is perform in any occation in Tonga and all over the world.

Lakalaka

Lakalaka is a standing up dance which man and woman are perform. This Tongan Traditinal Dance are perform in big occation like the King's Birthday or one of the Royal Family Wedding or Birthday and even openning of a new church or Government Building.

Lakalaka are divided into two side and in the middle stand the "VAHENGA" the highest chiefly of all the people are performing. "Vahenga" is always from the King's family or the chief of that village that perform.

Lakalaka is always perform in the palace when there is a visitors from aboard. There are change happening now but it's depent on the "punake" the composer intrest and how he or she want that lakalaka to be. Some of the Lakalaka they have to walk and mix during dancing, some are just standing but they have to know every piece of the perform inorder for the lakalaka to be very intresting and all the viewer will know that they have done a great job.

Lakalaka are still perform by Tongan's all over the world. Tongan's a proud to dance and it's the only way that makes them fell at home while they are staying overseas.