I was awakened about 6:30 am by the toot of tugboat. Soon we were docked in the Capital of Tonga. After breakfast, we were ashore and off on our tour. Our first stop was a brief view of the kings palace. Tonga is a monarchy and currently on their 6th dynasty.
Our second stop was at the Royal tombs for the 6th Dynasty.
Next we visited the site of Captain Cook’s landing.
Next we went to a burial site for a member of the 4th Dynasty. It is a truncated pyramid (only three steps) known as a ‘langi’. There are apparently 27 of these structures around Tonga. All date from the 4th dynasty.
Our next stop was the site of the HA’AMONGA ‘A MAUI. This megalithic structure was built circa 1200 CE by Tu’i Tatui, the 11th Tu’i Tonga (king of Tonga). Once it was speculated that it was the entrance to the royal compound but now it is believed to be a calendric device use to determine the shortest and longest days of the year. On the same site is a large standing stone which has a decided tilt called MAKA FA’AKINANGA (leaning rock). Legend has it that Tu’i Tatui sat against this stone and used a staff to keep people at a safe distance for fear of assassination (our guide indicated that Tu’i Tatui May have been blind). Tu’i Tatui in Tonga literally means (Tu’i) king (Ta) strikes (Tui) knee.
HA’AMONGA ‘A MAUI 
Our guide at the MAKA FA’AKINANGA
On our ride back to to Nuku’Alofa, our guide was insistent that we had to see the ‘fishing pigs’. These wild pigs rut along the shore and subsist on a diet of clams, crabs and small fish trapped in the tide pools.
