Talanoa: Community reacts to Miss Heilala fallout

Moana Makapelu Lee sits down with two members of our reporting team, proud Tongans Soana Aholelei and Alice Lolohea, to hear their reaction to the Miss Heilala fallout.
Miss Heilala Background: • The controversy that p...

[@gurlm90]

yeah we can do without the pageants...it does nothing for the overall interest of Tonga..bye

[@djkickmycobra5557]

we should have eating competitions.

[@rtarewe7502]

DJkickmycobra 55 lol 😂 so right

[@jadewong1771]

😅😅😅😅😅😅

[@tonganqueenb5517]

There needs to be an overhaul of the competition that accommodates for local pageant contestants as well as for contestants coming from overseas. It’s the diaspora of these pacific counties that not only make it what is has become but will determine its future. This is what the Tongan establishment needs to understand.

[@elchaposione5808]

Love the conversation!!

[@BrinkersMad]

Good conversation. They need to adapt. Yes Soana 😍😍👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@thecongenital3035]

Cancel the pagent seeing some women clearly shouldn't be there cos their gossip and hate is hidden from everyone. She spoke her truth and these two were thrown under the bus. Come on be honest the girls picking on her were the problem.

[@Centrifugal-]

Education people education shall be the key to opening doors

[@norrinradd8923]

Trying to fit a pageant into the Polynesian culture is an oxymoron.....

[@soanapalaki5492]

Miss heilala NOW!! Is just ugly like the past was wayyyyyy better cause they spoke the language most of them don't even know how to.speak Tongan like what's the point of you being in the pageant.... Like they have changed it up and ruined the miss heilala now.. Just staying no point watching it now...

[@soanapalaki5492]

Milika Afuhaamango it does matter thank you very much! LANGUAGE IS VERY IMPORTANT! it's what makes you are Tongan not speaking Tongan just makes you plastic how are you meant to help Tonga if you cannot speak to them in your native tongue huh? They don't understand English they understand their native language " Lea Fakatonga" ✌

[@soanapalaki5492]

Milika Afuhaamango The language helps you through to your Tongan Culture! It helps you through the birthdays, weddings, funerals etc. So the oldies understand the speech you are speaking and making Tonga proud that this person can speak and learn the culture through their native tongue and knowing the history of Tonga cause you know that the oldest elder only understand Tongan so if you want to know the history of Tonga then you have to speak your native language! And then all the other things come after ...

[@ltmg9832]

Milika Afuhaamango I wholeheartedly with you there.

[@ltmg9832]

Soana Palaki So me being “plastic. Born and raised outside the islands, and not fluent..Would you say that I’m a disgrace for being of Tongan background and not being fluent? So therefore, does make me more less Tongan than anyone who is fortunately fluent?? I’m proud to be Tongan MY way..There are plenty of ways to showcase your Tongan pride. Whether you can speak fluent or not. If anything, I would LOVE to speak fluent Tongan. But to be honest with you, I’ve been around narrow minded Tongans who think it’s okay to laugh and mock and put people like me down. Which then at times, puts me off for trying. I don’t go around mocking them for when they want to try and learn to speak English. Yes, Language is important but it is more of a social issue that we have within our people and don’t forget the demographics and statistics as well - the Tongan population consist of more Tongans outside the islands and in western countries. The lifestyle and adaptation is also a factor to us loosing the language unfortunately. And I think that’s one issue away from the whole pageant thing we need to look closely as well.