Tonga: New Waves Ancient Shores | tv-lastkingdom-04.jpg
Tamara Voninski / oculi Kingdom of Tonga September 2006 King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, 88, of the Kingdom of Tonga in the pacific died on September 11, 2006. King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV was buried September 19, 2006 in the Kingdom of Tonga in an elaborate funeral. Women wearing traditional mourning mats called ta'ovala wrapped around their waists in the city of Nuku'alofa, Tonga the week after the funeral. Tupou's IV's 41 year reign as near-absolute ruler in the Kingdom of Tonga made him one of the world's longest serving sovereign's, after Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Samoa's King Malietoa Tanumafili II. 11698
tonga pacific polynesia