Song and Dance

A staggering variety of handicrafts may be found in Tonga. Nothing is mass-produced; all handicrafts are crafted by hand from materials found nearby. In addition to bark cloth (tapa), visitors can observe native women creating and/or selling woven mats, woven bags, baskets, waist mats (ta'ovala), waist girdles (kiekie), and other items. Men's crafts have historically included wooden carvings of food bowls, war clubs, and spears, but today they also comprise jewelry pendants and ornaments with carvings of warriors or whales.

The tapa cloth, which is manufactured from the beaten bark of a mulberry tree, is one of the most significant items of Tongan craftsmanship. Women's organizations collaborate to produce enormous pieces of tapa to give as gifts during significant events like weddings and funerals. In several handicraft shops and markets located all around Tonga, visitors can browse and buy handmade goods. There are a few spots in The Kingdom where you may take handicraft workshops from locals to learn how to create your own memento, whether it's a woven useful object you can use for years to come or a piece of painted tapa cloth.