After spending three days on the island of Ha’apai, it felt like coming back to the ‘big smoke’ when I landed back in Nuku’alofa. Ha’apai is a group of 51 coral atolls an hour’s flight north of Tongatapu.
My colleague and I had a number of businesses to visit who had asked for mentoring support. Our flying visit allowed us to scope the work to be done and also gave us the opportunity to explore the island.
The Ha’api people are warm, friendly, and living a VERY relaxed island lifestyle. The beauty and the COLOURS of this place are out-of-this-world: Deep blues, light blues, turquoise, white blues, and any shade in between. Yes, the photos are original colours!
Contrasting the blues is the deep green of the flora. Rich, fertile soil and plenty of rain make for a lush vegetation.
The two main islands, Lifuka and Foa, are connected by a causeway. You can’t get lost there on the 20Km long and only about 1-3 km wide islands as there is only ONE road leading from top to bottom!
A new supply of groceries has arrived and the containers are being unloaded. One of them is filled to the top with two-minute-noodles!
A container filled with noodles! 
Pongai CBD (capital)
Businesses are all based around hospitality / food and accommodation, and the demand for business coaching covers this industry. There are only two types of accommodation: Guesthouses (NZ$ 15 – 60/night) and resorts (NZ$ 350+). While we stayed in the first category, we visited one of the resorts which is on our coaching list.
My healthy (!) lunch – a local special: Double-strength Raro cordial drink and deep-fried Tongan donuts! Anyone to join me?
Dad drinking raro and eating donuts! That’s a sight for sore eyes 😄
Hi Rolf and Sabine,
It looks so so beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
It all looks beautiful but sure there is a lot to be done. So great full that we can see a tiny bit of what your doing. Bless you both x
Great pics! Stunning colours:)
Amazing experiences for you 🙂
How aware or interested are people there generally re healthy eating?
Lol
That’s where my great great grandfather Alexander Blake met my GG grandmother Matelita A place we have to go. I’ll write to you soon about what you might need when we come up next month Rolf & Sabine.
Dear Broady, you certainly are connected with some famous people through your Ha’apai connection:
– This is were Jonah Lomu family is from.
– King Tupou I is widely reported to have been from Ha’apai. He united the Kingdom of Tonga in the 19th century.
Rolf
Absolutely stunning! These are the types of places that are never advertised for tourism… I wonder why!? So special you get to see them inside out 😍
What a beautiful part of God’s creation!
Businesses will appreciate your encouragement, Rolf.
With time in abundance to prepare food, why would 2 minute noodles be so popular?