Dugong - Tonga

James Cook was the first explorer to extensively chart the islands of Tonga. His first visit in 1773 was a success and the islands became widely known as the “Friendly Islands.” Tonga is the single Pacific island nation never to have fallen under the complete control of a foreign power; it has managed to remain independent.

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Dugong dugong - There are four living animals in the Serenia order; one species of dugong and three species of manatees. They are sometimes referred to as “sea cows” because of their habit of grazing on the thick clumps of sea grass such as those of the pondweed and tape grass family, both found along the bottom of warm river estuaries, mangrove channels, and shallow bays. An adult dugong can grow to a length of about 3 meters and rarely exceeds a weight of 425 kilos; females are larger than males.

Kava - Tonga

Piper methysticum - Kava is a mixture of water and the ground up roots of the kava pepper plant. The name “kava” is of Tongan origin, but it is a common drink throughout the Pacific islands. The brownish liquid is flat tasting and partly anesthetizes the drinker’s tongue and lips while producing effects ranging from a mood of slight relaxation to high levels of euphoria. Kava, containing lactone compounds, is habit forming and extensive use can result in severe liver damage.

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The mutiny aboard HMS Bounty occurred off the Tongan island of Tofua. In the early morning hours of  April 28, 1789, Fletcher Christian, the master’s mate aboard Bounty, woke up Captain William Bligh, escorted him forcefully to the deck, and announced he and 17 other men were taking over the ship. They cast Bligh and 18 of the crew off on a seven meter open launch with limited provisions and scant navigational equipment. Bligh managed to sail the craft to safety after a difficult 47 day voyage.

Historical Flags of Oceania

Although the Philippines were under the control of Spain, the short-lived Republic of Biak-na-Bato was proclaimed as the first Philippine Republic in 1897 by Emilio Aguinaldo. The flag consisted of a disc featuring a human face emitting 24 beams of sunlight. The disc, sans the face, is still retained in the current Philippine flag. The Pacific Island Trust Territory was established by the United Nations and was administrated by the United States from 1947 to 1986. It included the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau. The Republic of Ezo existed from January to June of 1869. Located on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido, it was the first Asian state to hold an open election. The Tongan flag was adopted in 1862. In 1864, the Red Cross was formed in Geneva, Switzerland and used the reverse pattern of the Swiss flag in tribute, a design matching the Tongan flag of 1862. Tonga changed its flag in 1866.