Tonga’s sporting community is mourning the passing of veteran administrator Hiko Fungavaka, who died after a battle with cancer.
Widely regarded for his dedication to sport development in Tonga and across the Pacific, Hiko leaves behind a legacy of service, leadership, and commitment to youth and community empowerment through sport.
Hiko was a Life Member of the Oceania Hockey Federation, a recognition shared rarely within Tonga and the wider Pacific for outstanding contribution to the code.
His impact extended beyond hockey, having served the Tonga Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (TASANOC) as a Sport Development Officer, where he played a key role in delivering and coordinating sport development initiatives across the nation.
In 2016, he transitioned fully into hockey development, bringing the same passion and purpose to strengthening the sport at both grassroots and national levels.
Most recently, he served as Development Manager for the Tonga Hockey Federation, where he was instrumental in driving participation, strengthening structures, and promoting hockey as a growing sport in Tonga.
Hiko also contributed to sports leadership and governance, serving as a Board Member of TASANOC from 2021 to 2025, continuing to advocate for athlete development, opportunity, and sustainability within Tonga’s sports system.
TASANOC and the wider sporting fraternity have paid tribute to his dedication, describing him as a committed leader whose work will be remembered with gratitude and respect.
“Hiko’s contribution to sport will be remembered with gratitude and respect. Our heartfelt condolences go to his family, friends, and the wider sporting community,” the tribute said.
Hiko Fungavaka’s legacy lives on through the athletes, communities, and institutions he supported and strengthened throughout his years of service.
