Buffet Dinner & Cultural Show

Lupe mentioned a cultural show happening on Fridays. I didn’t hear from her all day so booked one that I found happening at a resort, but right before I was about to head out, she texted back saying they would pick me up at 7 Tongan time, and we would head to Liku’alofa, their cultural centre.
7pm Tongan time ended up being 7:30, and she picked me up at the backpackers. We drove to the centre, which is actually just renting a space as their original resort got destroyed by a tsunami on the west shore in 2022 (the 2022 Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai eruption and tsunami). Dinner started at 8pm, with a show afterwards!
The tradition is that whoever says the prayer before the meal, their table gets to eat first. So Lupe went up and did the prayer, but also told everyone about me and how we met haha, as an explanation to why she was there tonight.

The buffet had lots of traditional Tongan food and some Chinese food and pasta as well. They have their own version of raw fish in coconut milk, very yummy, as well as some taro and ube and breadfruit chips. And a dessert which I think was faikakai.
The cultural show was neat, traditional Tongan dance routines. Apparently it is the custom to go up on stage and put $2 bills on the dancers while they’re dancing to show appreciation. Lupe made me go up and do it a few times haha, and she caught it on video. And lastly there was a fire dance! The boy doing it must’ve been 10 years old at most but was so impressive. Apparently a pacific champion at it.

It was someone’s birthday in the crowd so they made a cake and had a bunch of cake to give out as well so I got a piece to take home haha. At the very end they put on music for everyone to dance to, including a remix of cotton eye joe lolll

A very fun evening and nice to talk to Lupe more! Her husband and daughter are very quiet but very nice.Read more