A social media star from Vava‘u is taking the internet by storm with a series of jaw-dropping stunts that blend traditional Tongan toughness with modern viral flair.
Siaki Lonitenisi first captured attention by casually gripping a scorching-hot cooking pot, fresh off an open flame, barehanded, not once but twice, without flinching.
Then, he upped the ante by shooting down drinking coconuts with a rifle, hitting every target with perfect precision. Clips of his feats have sparked a wave of challengers attempting to replicate his skills.
Not content with just one amazing stunt, Lonitenisi demonstrated his sharpshooting skills by knocking down three breadfruit with his rifle, without missing a single shot.
His most audacious stunt came when he snatched a beehive mid-livestream, causing the swarm to flee rather than attack, prompting his now-famous declaration as “taki ‘o e vaotaa” (leader of the jungle).
Now, fans are challenging the Tongan star to aim even higher by attempting a Guinness World Record.
While Guinness World Records confirms there’s no existing category for gripping scorching hot pots, deeming it too dangerous, Lonitenisi is proving some records are made to be broken—or invented. There is also no specific Guinness World Record for shooting down coconuts from coconut trees.
The suggestion comes after similar records were set, including one by a Pakistani man, Muhammad Rashid (Pakistan) in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, who smashed 43 green coconuts with the head in one minute on 12 November 2023.
The most coconuts smashed with one hand is 148, and Muhamed Kahrimanovic (Germany) achieved this on the set of Lo Show Dei Record in Milan, Italy, on 21 February 2022.
Social media is buzzing with ideas for potential records Lonitenisi could attempt. Could he set a new mark for the fastest coconut shooting?
With his growing online following and demonstrated skills, many believe he has what it takes to put Tonga on the world record map.
His fans are certainly ready to cheer him on if he does.
The Guinness World Record for the heaviest monarch was held by King Tāufa’āhau Tupou IV of Tonga, who died in 2006. At his peak, he weighed 209.5 kg (462 lb).
