An investigation is underway after a Saab aircraft operated by Lulutai Airlines reportedly experienced difficulty while landing in Vavaʻu earlier this week.

The aircraft is understood to be leased or otherwise supplied to Lulutai by Air Chathams.

A reliable source told Kaniva News that the aircraft was allegedly carrying a load that substantially exceeded its permitted weight limit at the time of the incident.

The source further alleged that an airport staff member had authorised the loading of undocumented baggage that should not have been carried aboard the aircraft.

It said the pilot ordered the aircraft’s load to be reweighed after arrival, allegedly revealing a significant weight discrepancy.

Kaniva News has not independently verified the allegations concerning the aircraft’s weight or the undocumented baggage.

Air Chathams chief executive Duane Emeny confirmed that an incident had occurred but declined to provide details while the matter was being investigated.

“There is an active investigation underway. We will not comment until that investigation is complete,” Emeny said in response to questions from Kaniva News.

It remains unclear when the investigation is expected to be completed, which authority is conducting it, or whether any employee has been suspended or otherwise disciplined in connection with the incident.

It is also unclear how many passengers were aboard the aircraft, whether anyone was injured or whether the aircraft sustained any damage.

The incident comes almost three years after a Lulutai Airlines Saab 340B veered off a taxiway and struck a concrete bund at Tonga’s Fuaʻamotu International Airport on December 8, 2023, after aborting a flight to Vavaʻu because of a suspected hydraulic problem.

A preliminary report found that the aircraft, carrying 35 passengers, had no brakes when it struck the concrete block.

Investigators also found no flight data on the recorder, evidence that it had been deliberately disabled, an inaudible cockpit recording and no underwater locator beacon attached to the cockpit recorder.

Tongan-American Utah lawmaker Doug Fiefia has expressed his condolences following the fatal shooting outside a Tongan funeral in Kearns that killed one teenage twin and critically injured his brother.

Fiefia, who serves in the Utah House of Representatives and is the Republican nominee for Utah Senate District 18, called on the community to support the grieving families before confronting the issues surrounding the tragedy.

“My heart is with the families and everyone affected by the tragedy in Kearns,” Fiefia said in a Facebook post.

“Right now, they deserve the time, space, compassion, and support to grieve. In the days ahead, we must come together to listen, heal, and find a better path forward. ʻOfa atu.”

Fiefia won the Republican primary in June and will contest the general election on November 3. If elected, he is expected to become the first Tongan to serve in a state senate in United States history.

He currently represents Utah House District 48 and is seeking to represent approximately 120,000 residents in the State Senate.

During a recent visit to Tonga, Fiefia described the prospect of making history as both humbling and significant for Tongans worldwide.

“I will be the first Tongan state senator in the history of America, and I’m honoured to serve,” he said.

Fiefia said his political rise reflected the growing influence of Pacific Islanders in the United States. His prospective Senate district includes several thousand Tongans, many of whom supported his campaign by volunteering and raising funds.

Twin killed at funeral

Fiefia’s statement followed the August 17 shooting outside a meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 4660 West 5015 South in Kearns.

Eighteen-year-old twins Vilisoni “Soni” Angilau and Vita Angilau were attending their cousin’s funeral when they were shot.

Vilisoni was taken to Intermountain Medical Center but died from his injuries. Vita was critically injured and admitted to hospital.

The twins, who had recently graduated from high school, had travelled from Seattle to Utah for the funeral.

Police alleged that the shooting followed a confrontation involving the twins and a 17-year-old boy.

Afuhia Masiu Manatau, 45, was arrested on suspicion of murder after investigators alleged that he provided his teenage son with the firearm used in the shooting.

Witnesses gave differing accounts of whether Manatau handed the firearm to his son or whether the teenager took it from him. One witness alleged that the teenager loaded the weapon before firing twice at the person he had been fighting, according to a police affidavit.

Unified police believe the teenager shot both Angilau brothers. Investigators alleged that the brothers then pursued the teenager, took possession of the firearm and used it to shoot him.

The 17-year-old suffered a gunshot wound to the chest and was admitted to hospital in critical condition. He was subsequently arrested on suspicion of murder while still receiving treatment. Authorities have not identified him because he is a minor.

Further arrests follow

Two other 19-year-olds, Tevita Siope Tonga Kofe and Heneli Suli Grall, have since been arrested on suspicion of obstructing justice.

Investigators alleged that Grall removed the firearm from the scene, while Kofe helped the teenage suspect enter a black minivan to leave the area.

Police said video footage captured two men running from the scene behind the teenager. Other funeral attendees reportedly identified them as Kofe and Grall, who attended the same high school as the teenage suspect.

The allegations against Manatau, his son, Kofe and Grall have not been proven in court.

Fiefia’s appeal for compassion comes as Utah’s Tongan community continues to grieve Vilisoni’s death while supporting Vita through his recovery.

A second potential candidate has withdrawn from the Tongatapu 2 by-election to support Dr Malakai Koloamatangi after the pair reached an apparent political understanding centred on completing Tonga’s unfinished 2010 democratic reforms.

The by-election was triggered after the seats for Tongatapu 2 and Ongo Niua 17 were vacated by former MPs Sēmisi Sika and Lataifaingataʻa Tangimana, respectively. Both vacancies arose from court rulings linked to the 2025 general election.

Sika was found guilty of failing to report his full election expenses, while Tangimana was found guilty of bribery.

Parliament formally unseated the pair on August 3, disqualifying them from contesting an election for five years.

The Tonga Electoral Commission has scheduled the by-elections for October 8 following the issuance of the writ by King Tupou VI on August 7.

Fonua withdraws, endorses Koloamatangi

Lawyer Sione Fonua revealed yesterday that he had intended to contest the October 8 by-election but decided to withdraw after holding discussions with Koloamatangi.

“I held discussions with Malakai Koloamatangi and gave considerable thought to the Tongatapu 2 by-election scheduled for October 8,” Fonua said.

“I subsequently decided not to contest the by-election and instead to support Mafua—Malakai Koloamatangi.”

Fonua said their discussions focused on developing a strategy to complete the reforms introduced in 2010.

“A party system will be one of the mechanisms used to advance this work,” he said.

“I will step back and focus on building the Langafonua Tu’uloa Party to serve the King and the people of Tonga as a whole.”

Although Fonua did not describe the understanding as a formal deal, his statement indicates that his withdrawal and endorsement of Koloamatangi were connected to their agreement to pursue further democratic reform.

Dr Malakai Koloamatangi is a political scientist who spent much of his professional career studying and working at universities in New Zealand.

Second candidate steps aside

Fonua’s withdrawal follows a similar announcement by another potential candidate, Soane Patita Vakautafefine Fifita, who said earlier this month that he would not contest the seat and would instead support Koloamatangi.

The two withdrawals could consolidate support behind Koloamatangi before candidate nominations open on September 2 and 3.

Koloamatangi has said his campaign platform includes proposing parliamentary debate on completing what he regards as the unfinished or problematically structured democratic reforms of 2010.

Problems identified after reform

Tonga’s 2010 reforms transferred much of the monarch’s executive authority to an elected government, increased the number of people’s representatives to 17 and allowed elected MPs to choose the Prime Minister.

However, problems with the new constitutional structure emerged soon after Lord Tuʻivakanō formed the first government under the reformed system.

The government commissioned Commonwealth constitutional lawyer Peter Pursglove to review the constitutional and judicial arrangements. His report was tabled in Parliament, and a copy was presented to King Tupou VI.

Pursglove concluded that Tonga’s Constitution could claim to be among the most poorly structured and drafted constitutions in the Commonwealth. He also warned that the 2010 changes had weakened the earlier protections supporting judicial independence.

Speaking to RNZ in 2014, Pursglove warned that the problems would worsen unless corrective changes were made.

“It’s pretty obvious that the system isn’t working, it will only get worse and somebody has to bite the bullet and face reality and make the changes,” he said.

Fonua’s withdrawal now places the completion of those reforms at the centre of Koloamatangi’s campaign and raises the prospect of a broader political organisation being developed around that objective.

Two 19-year-olds have been arrested on suspicion of obstructing justice following the deadly shooting outside a funeral in Kearns, Utah, that killed one Tongan twin and left his brother critically injured.

Heneli Suli Grall was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on suspicion of second-degree felony obstruction of justice after investigators alleged that he removed the firearm used in the killing from the scene.

A second man, Tevita Siope Tonga Kofe, was arrested on Wednesday, August 26, on an obstruction charge. Investigators alleged that Kofe helped the 17-year-old shooting suspect enter a vehicle so he could flee.

The arrests are the latest development in the August 17 shooting that killed 18-year-old Vilisoni “Soni” Angilau and critically injured his twin brother, Vita Angilau.

As previously reported by Kaniva News, the twins had recently graduated from high school and were visiting Utah from Seattle to attend a relative’s funeral at a meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Weapon allegedly removed

According to probable-cause statements reported by ABC4, detectives with the Unified Police Authority believe Grall took the firearm used in the killing from the crime scene.

Video footage provided by a funeral attendee reportedly captured part of the physical confrontation and the shooting.

Detectives said they identified the 17-year-old suspect, his father, Afuhia Masiu Manatau, and Vilisoni in the footage. However, they were initially unable to identify two men seen running from the scene behind the teenage suspect.

Investigators later showed the video to members of a family who attended the funeral. They allegedly identified the two men as Grall and Kofe.

Police said the footage appeared to show Grall carrying a gun in his right hand before placing it near his waistband. Investigators allege that this was the firearm removed from the scene.

Another witness reportedly told detectives that Kofe helped the teenage suspect enter a black minivan so he could escape.

The minivan, allegedly driven by Manatau, was stopped following a brief police pursuit near the church shortly after the shooting, according to FOX 13.

Father accused of supplying gun

Police alleged that the shooting began after the unidentified 17-year-old became involved in a physical confrontation with the Angilau brothers.

Investigators accused Manatau of handing a firearm to his teenage son, who then allegedly shot the twins.

Manatau was subsequently arrested on suspicion of murder and felony discharge of a firearm. Police have not publicly identified the teenager because he is a minor.

Vilisoni died from his injuries, while Vita was admitted to hospital in critical condition and is continuing his recovery.

The allegations against Grall, Kofe, Manatau and the teenage suspect have not been proven in court.

Tonga National University (TNU) is facing serious questions after Parliament was told that students had paid for and completed courses only to discover that their qualifications were not accepted by the Public Service Commission (PSC).

The parliamentary exchange between two MPs and the Minister for Education failed to resolve the issue, leaving fundamental questions about the programmes’ accreditation and the PSC’s refusal to recognise the qualifications unanswered.

Tongatapu 7 MP Piveni Piukala said graduates from TNU’s Business Faculty had complained that the PSC refused to recognise their qualifications, reportedly because the programmes had not been accredited by the Tonga National Qualifications and Accreditation Board (TNQAB).

Piukala said the students had paid for, completed and passed the courses.

The concern intensified when Tongatapu 4 MP Mateni Tapueluelu said similar complaints had repeatedly been raised during his constituency visit.

He told Parliament that those involved had confirmed that some TNU courses had not yet been accredited, and he questioned how this had been allowed to happen.

Students Charged Before Course Accreditation

Minister for Education Moʻale ʻOtunuku appeared unaware of the alleged situation and did not confirm whether it had occurred at TNU. Instead, he explained that no TNU programme should be taught until it had been approved and accredited by TNQAB.

He added that whether another organisation recognised the resulting qualification was a separate issue.

Key questions remain over whether TNU knew the programmes were unaccredited when it enrolled the students, what assurances it gave about PSC recognition and what remedies would be available if the complaints were substantiated.

The PSC and TNU could not immediately be reached for comment.

The Prime Minister’s Office has denied that the government was planning a taxpayer-funded Hū Louifi ceremony to seek forgiveness from King Tupou VI, responding shortly after Kaniva News published the allegations last night.

Before publication, Kaniva News asked Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua on Monday 24 to confirm whether the ceremony was being planned and, if so, explain why it was considered necessary.

No response had been received by the time the story was published. The report therefore clearly stated that the allegations had not been independently verified and that Lord Fakafanua had not responded to questions.

Shortly after the article appeared online on Thursday 26, the Prime Minister’s Office responded and said: “There is no formal apology / hu louifi to take place to His Majesty.”

Its response denies the central allegation contained in the original report.

Alleged cultural presentations

Information obtained by Kaniva News had alleged that the proposed ceremony would include a TOP$30,000 cash envelope, a pig valued at TOP$5,000, Tongan handicrafts worth TOP$9,000, yams costing TOP$3,000 and kava toho valued at TOP$3,000.

Together, the alleged presentations would have cost at least TOP$50,000. It had also been alleged that they would be funded with taxpayers’ money.

The response did not explain the origin of the information or indicate whether any informal discussion about such a ceremony had taken place. However, it stated clearly that no Hū Louifi was planned.

Allegation linked to Matatoa

The alleged ceremony had been linked to the controversy surrounding royal land at Matatoa, which had originally been leased to the government for a specific purpose before being subleased under a previous administration.

Reports indicated that His Majesty was dissatisfied with aspects of the arrangement.

Lord Fakafanua previously said the documented transaction did not appear to be illegal. However, he expressed the view that the government responsible for the sublease should have informed the King because the land had originally been leased for a different purpose.

It was subsequently alleged that this position had prompted the Fakafanua government to consider seeking the King’s forgiveness through a formal Hū Louifi. The Prime Minister’s Office has now denied that any such ceremony is planned.

Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua has yet to respond to questions about allegations that his government was planning an expensive traditional Hū Louifi ceremony to seek forgiveness from King Tupou VI over the controversial subleasing of royal land at Matatoa.

Information obtained by Kaniva News alleges that the proposed ceremony would include a TOP$30,000 cash presentation, a pig valued at TOP$5,000, Tongan handicrafts worth TOP$9,000, yams costing TOP$3,000 and kava toho valued at TOP$3,000.

The listed items would bring the alleged expenditure to at least TOP$50,000. It has also been alleged that the presentations would be paid for with taxpayers’ money.

Kaniva News has not independently verified the proposed expenditure, whether Cabinet formally approved the ceremony or whether any public money has been allocated or spent.

Lord Fakafanua was asked to confirm whether the government was planning a Hū Louifi ceremony and, if so, explain why it was considered necessary. He had not responded by the time of publication.

Seeking Forgiveness Through Tradition

A Hū Louifi is a highly formal Tongan ceremony through which those involved express deep remorse and humility while seeking forgiveness from an aggrieved person.

In matters involving the monarch, participants traditionally approach the King in a deliberately humble manner and present cultural offerings as part of their apology.

The alleged plan appears to be connected to reports that His Majesty was dissatisfied after land he had leased to the government for a specific purpose at Matatoa was subsequently subleased under a previous administration.

The Matatoa property has attracted public scrutiny because it houses the headquarters of Tonga Power Limited and a World Bank-funded complex accommodating the Tonga Meteorological Service and the National Emergency Management Office.

Lord Fakafanua previously said documents relating to the arrangement did not indicate that anything illegal had occurred.

However, he expressed the view, during an interview with Television Tonga, that the government responsible for the sublease should have informed the King because the land had originally been leased to the government for a different purpose. It has been alleged that this position prompted the Fakafanua government to propose the Hū Louifi.

Tonga-born prop Saula Maʻu fought back tears as he described making his All Blacks debut as a “dream come true” following New Zealand’s dramatic victory over the Lions in Johannesburg.

The 26-year-old Highlanders and Otago front-rower entered the match in the 60th minute as the All Blacks recovered from an 18-point deficit to claim a 41–35 win at Ellis Park on Tuesday.

“It was unreal because obviously this was always a goal of mine, to one day play for the All Blacks,” Maʻu told media after the match.

“A couple of weeks ago, I was back at home playing for Otago, and then two weeks later I’m playing for the All Blacks. It just feels amazing.”

Maʻu had been called into the squad only last week as an injury replacement for prop Ollie Norris before being selected on the bench against the Lions.

When he entered the field, he joined fellow substitutes Bradley Slater and Xavier Numia in a new front-row combination that helped the All Blacks complete their remarkable comeback.

The Lions had stunned New Zealand by racing to an early 14–0 lead before extending their advantage to 35–17 early in the second half.

However, the All Blacks responded with 24 unanswered points to escape with the six-point victory. New Zealand scored seven tries, including two each to Ethan Blackadder, Rieko Ioane and Emoni Narawa, while Noah Hotham also crossed the line. The win preserved the All Blacks’ unbeaten record on their South African tour.

The appearance completed a rapid and emotional rise for Maʻu, who was born in Tonga and moved to New Zealand as a teenager to attend Auckland Grammar School.

He made his provincial debut for Otago in 2019 after former Highlanders coach Aaron Mauger invited him to Dunedin to train with the Super Rugby franchise.

Maʻu endured a difficult series of injuries during the early stages of his career, which delayed his progression into professional rugby. He eventually made his Highlanders debut during the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season and has since established himself as a powerful tighthead prop.

His perseverance was rewarded at Ellis Park when he became All Black number 1242.

The emotional post-match interview reflected the significance of the occasion for Maʻu, whose journey from Tonga to the black jersey reached its defining moment only days after his unexpected call-up.