Tales of Taonga - the Tongan goddess Hikule'o

This documentary on the Tongan Goddess Figurines takes a deep look at Tonga's most infamous and notorious goddess - Hikule'o.
After being shunned from Tonga after the introduction of Christianity, the Goddess Figurines (of Hikule'o) were ordered to be destroyed, and the worship of Hikule'o was illegalised.
Her own origin story is one of grave bondage and restriction, alongside the traumatic removal of her religion from Tongan culture - it signifies the difficult question that Tongan's often find trouble answering; who are we and what should we believe in?
For MORE check out www.thecoconet...

[@teti_99]

“It’s important for the young Tongan people cause they are the most confused.” 👏🏾 👏🏾 👏🏾 👏🏾 👏🏾 so true!! I’m so glad I was born and raised strong in my Tongan heritage and taught about all these cultural beliefs in our history. Although I’m born and raised in the USA and never been to Tonga, Tongan is my first language and I still speak it fluently today. My wife and I will teach our kids the Tongan way like we were taught. Malo e vahevahe ae kii vitio ko eni mo kimautolu. Ofa lahi atu!

[@jahjah525]

Never lose your language ❤. You are welcome on my ancestral lands ( Turle island) we are cousins - the fourth corner of the earth. Turrle Island is the main land of polynesia and polynesia is the turtle's "crown"

[@omggiiirl2077]

Crazy how the missionaries would convince indigenous people to discard our artifacts then come up behind us and take them home as treasures.

[@wecanwatersports4151]

Cause the problem; have the solution is their formula. 🫵😊

[@ichinesan]

I would love to know more about the old ways before Christianity and the fakapalangi way of live I've grown up with. I wish there was more out there about the old gods/demigods, and more rich history of tattooing.

[@ltmg9832]

Absolutely! I remember growing up at how I hear a few stories coming into the surface and yet that wouldn’t come hand in hand with our conservative beliefs in Christianity. For a long time, things just didn’t add up getting to know my Tongan identity.

[@jahjah525]

Our own ancestral memory will bring it back into life. We are our ancestors- tap into your inner knowing ❤.

[@Luvlylexus]

Thank you. Growing up here in a foreign country, I have always wondered about pre-christianity in Tonga. I tried talking to my parents and siblings about it, and they get mad cause they don't know. I would love to have a episode where Tonga God's are explained. Thank you.

[@airashiitheempress5798]

I want hear more about pre colonized and pre European influence In Tonga and the true world that our ancestors believed in. I’ve always hear the name but never knew the meaning til now and it’s absolutely fascinating. I have to learn more because at some point we had to have come from one of the ancient civilizations or prehistoric man god bless my dear tongan brothers and sisters. Love my culture

[@boxcuber]

tonga was never colonised by any european country and has never been conquered and has had a king for over a Thousand years a truly fascianting country

[@_.--._._-._--._-.--__.--._._-.]

@@boxcuber correct we were never colonized but were were brainwashed into western beliefs and their society, once they came and missionaries were introduced, we lost our mythology, and we lost a huge chunk of our traditions and culture

[@boxcuber]

@@_.--._._-._--._-.--__.--._._-. we didnt lose much we still have our culture and traditions like what did we lose? we still wearing ta'ovalas we still continue the faka'apa'apa also we still know know our ancient stories hell i know the story of my home villege that can date back to the 14th century..

[@ltmg9832]

@@boxcuber And yet STILL there is soo much more than what we have right now to learn and understand. There’s so much that just does not add up with our Tongan identity though.

[@marajonika3665]

@@boxcuber When the missionaries introduced Christianity we distanced ourself more and more from our "actual" beliefs and were brainwashed into thinking that THEY were living the right life, even the King believed that we should follow the "white" way. Our "culture" and our "traditions" are heavily influenced by Christianity, so ask yourself what did we lose? We could've been out here praising a goddess, now most Tongan churches won't even allow their own woman to become Faifekaus and preach, do you think that's how our life was like before christianity. We didn't lose much. but they taught us more, they taught us sexism and homophobia and basically how we should live our lives.

[@keltindall2870]

Tears of joy!!! We need more of this 💚✊🏾🌺

[@fabmillimonz5580]

Hikule'o... this is the first time I have heard of her which is saddening. Thank you for this video letting me learn more and more about my culture and where I come from. Malo Aupito

[@bigtenga92]

It’s heartwarming to see this generation so passionate about our past. ♥️

[@mialonnet1678]

Thank you so much for sharing this piece of our history, hope to find more ❤️

[@amdclx4635]

I keep coming back to this

[@jaqenhghar2970]

interesting similarities between the Hawaiian goddess Pele and the Tongan goddess Hikule'o: After their conversions to Christianity, High Chieftess Kapi'olani defies Pele at Kīlauea and King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou I hangs a figurine of Hikule'o at Lifuka The volcano eruption of Kilau'ea in 1983 and the burning of Nuku'alofa in 2006

[@renegade9064]

@Jaqan, The event that took place in Nuku’alofa had nothing to do with our nation’s conversion to Christianity lol. That’s such a stretch toko.

[@jaqenhghar2970]

@@renegade9064 Siana, I was comparing the burning of Nuku'alofa with the volcano eruption on Hawai'i. The part of Christianity I was talking about was with Kapi'olani and Tāufaʻāhau. They both cheated with their old gods to be with the new pālangi Jehovah pretty much.

[@bortusisaac5572]

@@renegade9064 elo he kata toks you guys are funny.

[@yeahnahlope]

Love this video. Makes me want to learn more about my Fiji before colonisation.

[@chikodata5883]

You should you’ll enjoy it

[@josemacbeth1641]

Hikule'o is the goddess of fertility which Tangaloa and Maui respected. Our own tradition today Fahu also respecting our females is because of this va between brother and sister. The Tongan Empire Hikule'o had a role in it because all these conquered Islands would pay tribute(Inasi/Polopolo) to the Tongatapu due to this belief.

[@jmjm1920]

Actually wrong interpretation of English to Tongan sacred history! There were 3 powerful clan lives in Tonga kohai koau mo momo which is maui tangaloa and pulotu! The tangaloa Maui were not God they were the highest title who live in stone mound langis inToloa Kolonui Mua ancient capital Tongatapu island. Maui clan were the navigators who first built the Haamonga a Maui location as dateline today.Hundreds of siaheulupe mounds and 28 langis in Tongatapu were built.Tokatufa umutakitaki practices that's how neighboring island get their highest chiefs.The only King Tuitonga for Centuries. They found the oldest tattoo kit preserves nearly 3000 years old from ancient village kolotau o Pea. Peace! 👑♥️

[@airashiitheempress5798]

Wonderful. surely during the time of Tonga’s influence by Christianity was taking place, there would have to be citizens that didn’t agree with the destruction of our past way of life that show cases our ancestors devotion to the mother earth and Goddess Hikuleo. I wonder if such people existed that preserved our ancient teachings and were able to salvage the true meaning of being Tongan. Without being ridiculed and judged than brainwashed into the white mans epitome of riteousness and cleanliness in spirit. Could this be how they were able to find these miniature statues of hikuleo and the 3000 year old tattoo tradition? I hope we can come together an restore the time of the Gods and what exactly it was that we did before the infiltration of white stiff necked fools into our motherland smh one love to my polynesian brothers and sisters searching for answers that will open up the past and rejuvenate interest from our younger generation to know we are and where we come from from in all the true sense of it

[@Christian-Roots818]

“The Children who lived unto Darkness has seen the Great Light”

[@killacali4610]

🤣 dam you are everywhere sheesh 🤦‍♂️

[@peti4064]

Sounds legit

[@JuanLopez-tp7hj]

I think it’s so cool they embraced the pre Christian ways and history

[@ltmg9832]

Surely it wasn’t just colonisers and missionaries doing their thing wiping out our culture. The King would’ve destroyed or still keep things within his own measure of what had suited him best. Not for his people. There...I said it. Just thinking outside the box here

[@amdclx4635]

Definitely, the "death" of the old gods can be attributed to taufa'ahaus power grab as well as the influence of Methodist missionaries. In that respect Tongas colonization was in part welcomed by the ruler, as a central white god would consolidate power with taufa'ahau and his line.

[@kasikauvaka6845]

Dang! This stuff is interesting!

[@G.I_BRO_SHOW]

@@amdclx4635 Yeah I think so too. I reckon there was some deal under the table kinda thing like "We will convert unless you give me the power to lead these people" and he probably came out with some "newfound" artifact or talisman...probably a rifle to help indoctrinate and weaponize. Pretty much threw his own people under the bus. Who knows..but something along those lines coz I wouldn't be surprised.

[@royalylockdup6736]

this did a poor job of explaining what she was the goddess of. Why was she tied up? She ruled the underworld, so you're named after a devil lmao

[@thinebuttocks5002]

She was tied up by her brothers because they were jealous. It obviously states in the video babes. She was tied up by the king because of the conversion from the old ways to Christianity. The old ways were seen as taboo and wrong, so the king tied a rope around her neck to signify the end of the old ways. Ruling the underworld doesn't mean = evil. If that were true then the Christian god would be evil since in Christianity he is omnipotent and judges over everyone. Meaning he decides where each person who dies goes to. The Devil just deals with the punishment. If you're going to judge a deity and compare them to a different religion, check yourself and look at it through an open mind and be respectful about it. The underworld isn't an evil place, it's just the place of the dead.

[@boxcuber]

tonga was never colonised so the fact this guy saying that is all wrong..

[@maliasoifua8055]

Interesting take on our talatupu'a. Glad you're talking about it. Some of the basics are different to my understanding of the story.. Including who Havea Hikule'o's parents are lol where she's from and resides and why lol

[@lauiloa]

Nice like samoas goddess of war Nafanua humm interesting...

[@ltmg9832]

Hikule’o is immortal. Isn’t Nafanua mortal who battled with the nifo oti? Pre-Christian Tonga is filled with loads of curses like you wouldn’t believe. It’s not called Tongatapu (The Forbidden South) for no reason.

[@solomondavis4076]

actually is equivalent to our atua Sāvea Si'ule'o, as you see in the similarity of the names : )

[@solomondavis4076]

*Sāvea Si'uleo, sorry. Who also presides over Pūlotu.

[@solomondavis4076]

Sāvea Si'uleo was said to be the father of Nafanua, her mother being Tilafaigā (one of the twins who brought tatau over from Fiji, the other being Taema).

[@jimpaea5473]

30 years ago a man who came to preach in Tonga from America said to the King Tupou 4 publicly that if he does not fear God and wake up from the blindness of greed, people’s hearts would be set on fire and through rage would burn the city. Now I wonder how Hikule’o was involved in this.

[@monilaui9238]

Ha

[@mitchii8489]

legendary

[@2nycwidit77]

We wouldn't be where we are without #1 Jesus and King George Tupou the 1st

[@stanreid3413]

The statues on Easter island was created by one of the Tu'i Tonga. It was a tribute to a wife and a mistress. Well 2 of them that I saw on a KZbin clip by a tongan scholar or researcher from Hawaii

[@increasepeace4996]

It was a bullshit theory. Easter Islanders don't corroborate this story.

[@heihei3161]

Increase Peace Agreed.. the Tongan empires influence did not spread that far..

[@renegade9064]

@Stan Reid, There is a lot of debate around Easter Island being occupied by Tongans. I believe it to be true, but still ongoing discussions. Those Easter islanders have lost many of There old traditional ways & tales. Its quite sad.

[@Manoatevarua]

@@renegade9064 Tongans didn’t go past the Cook Islands Tongans weren’t even occupying French Polynesian (Mā’ohi Nui)

[@2uipulotu]

@@increasepeace4996 what bullshit I see you everywhere with negative comments hahahaha Samoan are always freakin blowing shit around 😂🤣

[@Lostsheepp]

Sis they were nephilim

[@ryanletemi]

but only for the meantime....

[@jeremiah5474]

Deuteronomy 32:16-17 16 They stirred him to jealousy with strange gods; with abominations they provoked him to anger. 17 They sacrificed to demons that were no gods, to gods they had never known, to new gods that had come recently, whom your fathers had never dreaded. 1 Corinthians 10:20 No, but I do say this: What the Gentiles sacrifice, “they sacrifice to demons, and not to God,” and I do not want you to become partners of demons. Psalm 96:5 For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Psalm 106:37-38 They served their idols, which became a snare to them. They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons; they poured out innocent blood

[@tongahealingchannel1875]

Funny how "Ta Ngata Eiki" translated into English literally means Snake 🐍God

[@bacc9722]

This is pure idolatry at its finest. The 1st king of Tonga destroyed those things for a reason because it’s just demonic & wicked. Hence why he changed the foundation from that to Christianity. And it’s impossible to believe in two things at once believing in ancient Tongan spirits or carved wood images and also believing in the Word of God (Christianity). Jesus said in Matthew 16:24 - “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Clear message is for those who ain’t born again in Christ must repent & make Jesus your personal Lord & Saviour! As a Tongan & a born again Christian.. That was the greatest decision i’ve ever made!

[@monilaui9238]

Just stop

[@_.--._._-._--._-.--__.--._._-.]

Man we must be polar opposites cause as a born tongan Christian myself, with a father and grandfather as main priests of their churches, I've come to realize christianity has some cult looking practices🤭 but everyone has their own opinions, just sad the fact that everyone is so brainwashed by something that was forced upon us against our will

[@ltmg9832]

Omg please stop...we need to know more about this as our identity, just because this is coming up into the surface does not mean we’re not embracing Christianity. We still are. But we need to know because our generation is the most confused. Things don’t add up and make sense to us. It’s like some things we have are embedded in a biblical sense and then there are cultural aspects we practice that are not in the bible. And that’s where we’re all like “umm but Why?!?!”

[@Luvlylexus]

Christianity worships Idols too. The bible is full of myths. Embrace our past. This is part of Tonga's history. Christianity is the white people religion. Toki a mohe hake pe 'o lele kihe lotu mata'i pilau. check yourself mister born again. Siko tata. ueeeee.

[@bigtenga92]

Christianity is a white mans religion made for colored people to be enslaved in the mind.

[@monemasi1812]

Mythology

[@slickrick7455]

Kau VALE! 😂

[@jimpaea5473]

Omg Hikule’o didn’t make what Tonga what it is it was Christ for goodness sakes. Don’t mean to be rude but Hikule’o did not modernise or revolutionise Tonga the way we know it today

[@bortusisaac5572]

@Jim Paea: I don't mean to be rude (kole keu hufanga atu he ngaahi fakatapu)... but Christ did not enter Tonga like a happy sugar coated fairy tale... it involved ALOT of bloodshed. Ever heard of the massacre at Nukunuku? Where Tupou 'Uluaki and his peace-loving Christian henchmen stormed one of the last remaining holdouts of those who refused to convert into the plague of Christianity. The casualty included women and children. Is that your rendition of modernizing and revolution? Did they forget to add that part of Tongan history in your Mormon cult's account of Pouono?

[@_.--._._-._--._-.--__.--._._-.]

Missionaries fucked our culture, the main reason why Tonga is so westernized is cause of colonizers dumbass. Yes she didn't contribute to Today's Tonga, but she was that part of our culture that were lost cause of them. You haven't seen how lost polynesian cultures are right now and the traditions we used to practice are now gone. I would rather choose my roots

[@_.--._._-._--._-.--__.--._._-.]

@@bortusisaac5572 I completely agree, the up bringing of christianity indeed fucked Tonga up in many ways, yes some parts now may not be as bad, but the cults between the borders and the deaths of those who wanted to hold onto our culture overshadows the good in it. They hung and burnt everyone and everything related to our old mythology, now all our history is gone and all we have are rags

[@sportydude9337]

@@bortusisaac5572 Scripture for where Christ wants killing to preach his message.

[@sportydude9337]

@@_.--._._-._--._-.--__.--._._-. Cannibalism would still be in Polynesia lol

[@heihei3161]

False those are statues of Sakaunu.. Hikule’o has always traditionally been male stop pushing this just for feminism cause it’s bullshit

[@Alisi437]

Hikule'o can be both, but in Tongan myth she was Maui and Tangaloa's oldest sister whom recited in Pulotu. Maui recited in the underworld and Tangaloa at Langi/sky. This is where the Tongan custom of "fahu" comes from. The oldest sister of your father is the fahu and the highest patriarch within the Tongan family while the brother is called the 'Ulumotu'a. This is not about feminism, women in a Tongan family is always respected throughout your fathers side, but they cant own lands cause it is only passed down to a Male heir.

[@2uipulotu]

Stop blowing shit around ur opinions is bullshit it is not False Hikuleo is a Woman God Navigator so shut up

[@jachinmanu2593]

Satan be like.