Sopolemalama Filipe Tohi's Lalava Brings New Life to Kongakava Hotel's Historic Fale Tonga

"For me it was good and challenging to add new life to the fale and add colour to bringing the old fale to life and it still old technique and traditions and colour of the ropes give us the change of our time and relationship of the traditional fale to the modern and western fale." - Sopolemalama Filipe Tohi

Paul Johansson, of The Kongakava Hotel was thrilled and honoured that renowned Tongan artist and sculptor, Sopolemalama Filipe Tohi, agreed to do the Lalava that graces the main entrance to the Kongakava Hotel.

The lalava (traditional lashing) by Sopolemalama completes the reconstruction of the 100 year old faletonga to its former glory, bringing the old traditions into a contemporary setting for the entrance to the Hotel.

The art of lalava is a ancient traditional Tongan art form and Sopolemalama Filipe Tohi would like to see this art revived and used in contemporary settings in the Kingdom of Tonga.

Sopolemalama is a Samoan chiefly title that was bestowed on Filipe Tohi by His Highness, Tamasese of Samoa, after a Lalava he had completed on a village meeting house in Samoa.

Sopolemalama Filipe Tohi, with his incredible skill and experience at the art of lalava has completed this eye-catching, beautiful weaving of Kafa with a combination of red, white, black and brown colors that have brought a vibrant visual dimension to the faletonga.

The design predominantly used by Sopolemalama in this work is called, 'Humu' or Trigger Fish, but if you look a bit closer you will find the shape of a crown, military like regalia shapes and the frigate birds (Lofa).

The Kongakava Hotel looks forward to welcoming guests through this fale Tonga with the beautiful lalava work by Sopolemalama Filipe Tohi.

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A short history on the Fale Tonga

The Fale Tonga was brought to the site from the village of Kolonga, east of Tongatapu. The Fale Tonga is at least over 100 years old and was the family home of Sione and Lolohea Hala'api'api 'Aitu. According to a family elder, the Faletonga was originally built by chief Nifofa, Kolonga.

Through an amazing coincidence of ancient Tongan genealogies, there is an incredible link of genealogies to the 3rd Lord Nuku of Kolonga, Nuku Hape, the name Kongakava and ancestral blood ties of the original owners of the Fale tonga; Sione Hala'api'api, Nifofa and the artist.

Sopolemalama Filipe tohi, a descendant of Kuli-moe-Anga, son of 4th Lord Nuku Nimamalohi. This adds a very special touch and dimension to the completion of the old faletonga.

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Article courtesy of The Kongakava Hotel and Sopolemalama Filipe Tohi