Intro: Questions of Tongan identity

For years, I've wrestled with my Tongan identity. What makes me Tongan? Is it about who my parents are? Speaking the language? My skin color?

I spent the past month in Tonga trying to answer this one question: what does it mean to be Tongan?

Here’s what I learned:

• Culture vs Race: The difference between race and culture
  • Race: What is race? What does it mean to be racially Tongan?
  • Culture: What is culture? What does it mean to be culturally Tongan?
• Tongan Archetypes: The 3 types of Tongans
• Culture Hybridity: Growing up Tongan outside of Tonga
  • Anga Faka-Tonga: The Tongan Way and where I disagree
  • Anga Faka-Palangi: The Western Way and how impacts me
• Culture & The Self: Dangers of “hiding behind your culture”

This essay explores what it means to be Tongan, especially for Tongans who grow up outside of Tonga:

• How do we view our Tongan identity?
• What does it mean to be a “real” Tongan?
• Can we become more Tongan?

I wrestled with these questions on my journey to understand what it means to be Tongan.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Any attempt to list and measure the criteria that define Tongan identity would be futile, as each individual has her or his own definition of that identity, shaped by her or his life experiences

 **— Helen Morton Lee in *Tongans Overseas*

Keep in mind that this essay isn’t the end all be all of what it means to be Tongan. It’s simply how I’ve come to grips with my Tongan identity. That being said, I’m always looking to improve my views so if you think I’m wrong, reach out to [email protected].