Breakwater Project in Lifuka, Tonga, Aims to Curb Erosion, Backed by Church Support

Construction noise now breaks the usual quiet of Lifuka Island in the Ha’apai Islands group of the Kingdom of Tonga. Sione Fukofuka grew up on Lifuka and returned from the United States with construction experience and a company, Pearl Construction, to contribute to the community that raised him. He brought his construction team to build a breakwater that he said was much needed, using American construction standards he learned while working in Oregon, Washington and Hawaii.

The breakwater is planned to serve three purposes. First, it is designed to resist tsunami impacts of up to 1,000 tons. Second, it is meant to eliminate coastal erosion. Third, it will beautify and restore the beach by replanting native plants and coconut trees and adding gazebos for picnics.

Minister of Justice and Tourism Mo’ale Finau described the wider significance of the island. “Part of what I thought was to beautify the island that is home to our king, because this is history,” he said. “Ha’apai […] is crucial in the history of the Kingdom of Tonga.”

Other people born and raised on Lifuka have also long asked for a breakwater. Among them is the current governor of Ha’apai, the Honorable Pita Taufatofua, whose residence and governor’s offices are in Pangai, Lifuka. “This is a much needed improvement project,” Governor Taufatofua said. “The erosion is quite great, not only in this area, but along the way from here to the next village.”

According to the source, the progressive effects of erosion have put the island’s Royal Palace at risk, caused the hospital to be relocated, and resulted in the closure of a church and a radio tower. The governor said he had requested work in the coastal zone, and “fortunately the representative of this constituency took up the challenge.” That representative is Minister Finau, who said, “When we build breakwaters, erosion stops, at least in the part where the breakwater is.” He called the project “the life of my people.”

Minister Finau said he grew up walking along the beach and thinks about the island’s coast often. “I never forget what is happening on the coast of my island,” he said. “I prayed for that almost daily.” He contacted Fukofuka, his childhood friend, who was eager to help. “He only comes here because he’s a great friend,” the minister said. “We both believe in our responsibility for the people of this island.” Fukofuka said, “I am anxious to save the lives of the island’s inhabitants.”

The project was carried out with the help of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose leaders recognized the need. Sione Tuione, of the Church’s 70th Pacific Area, said, “The Church focuses on people. We want to help protect people from the islands of Ha’apai. We always want to work with governments or other organizations to help our people here in Tonga.” Minister Finau worked with Church leaders and the Kingdom of Tonga to finance the first two phases of the work.

The minister’s plan is a two-kilometre breakwater in eight sections of about 300 meters each, extending along the island’s southwest coast, which the source describes as the area most vulnerable to tsunamis and erosion. “I have divided the coastline of my island into eight phases in order to facilitate fund-raising for its construction,” he said. The first phase began in front of the royal ancestral residence to protect it from the advance of the sea, which had almost climbed the steps of the historic building. “The first king of Tonga was born and raised here,” Minister Finau said. “I decided to start here, because this is the heart of the history of the Kingdom of Tonga.”

Standing under a special tree on the grounds of the Royal Palace, Minister Finau recounted the historic encounter between the first king of Tonga and his soldiers. “The king said to the soldiers, ‘From now on, there will be no more war in Tonga. Tonga will become a Christian country.’ By that declaration of the king, this tree was called ‘Matuku ‘a e Tau,’ meaning, ‘Come home, everyone. There will be no more war from today’.”

Source: Read the original report (translated from Spanish)