The Miss Tau’olunga competition is being held in the Queen Sālote memorial hall in Nuku’alofa this evening.
The Tau’olunga is the dance component of the Miss Heilala competition.
The island creation and sarong segment will be held tomorrow night, with the talent competition on Thursday and the grand Heilala ball and crowning on Friday.
The winner of the Miss Heilala competition is expected to assist the Tonga Visitors Bureau/Ministry of Tourism and the Kingdom of Tonga’s tourism industry in tourism promotions both locally and abroad.
In addition, the Miss Heilala will also be the Kingdom of Tonga’s entrant in the Miss South Pacific Pageant.
King’s birthday
The Miss Heilala competition is being held against a backdrop of celebrations to mark Tupou VI’s 60th birthday.
The king’s birthday is officially celebrated today.
Last night the former principal of Tupou High School and academic, Rev Dr Geoffrey Cummins presented a lecture on the making of a nation to launch the celebration.
Other celebrations scheduled for this week include marches, traditional dance and music competitions, games and sporting activities, as well as prayer meetings and choir singing.
Conference
This week also saw the end of the annual conference of the Free Wesleyan Church, Tonmga’ main religious denomination.
The conference avoided a possibly confrontational discussion on homosexuality.
Radio New Zealand reported that the conference organisers refused to let delegates from Australia put the issue on the agenda.
Instead, participants were told the issue would set aside for further work to be done by the President’s office and a definitive position to be presented next year.
Conference leaders affirmed that the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga stood on its traditional doctrine.
The kingdom’s LGBTI community has long called for reforms to Tongan legislation.
Meanwhile, delegate elected Reverend Dr ‘Ahio for an 11th year as president of the Free Wesleyan Church.
The main points
- Tonga has begun a week-long celebration to mark Tupou VI’s 60th birthday.
- The Heilala Festival is also underway, with the Miss Tau’olunga competition being held in the Queen Salote memorial hall Nuku’alofa since this evening.
