The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcanic eruption, tsunami, and ash-fall on January 15, 2022, has affected 84% of Tonga's population and relocated entire islands of families losing the lands of generations before them and the lives they've built. Videos and pictures of flattened villages, wilting crops, and contaminated drinking water tanks have shown the extent of the damage that Tonga will be recovering from and rebuilding for the next couple of years.

 

We as CHamorus, Hawaiians, Marshallese, and Samoans, are coming together with Tongan Community of Southern California, Anamatangi Polynesian Voices, and local Tongan leaders to support the recovery and rebuilding efforts in Tonga. As community-based organizations that have Tongan board members, leaders, staff, and serve our Tongan community, we join the collective efforts across the world in showing that we are United by the same Ocean so our love will never be disconnected from one another.

 

All funds that we raise will go to local efforts to supplement aid provided by Tonga's government, aid agencies, and NGOs. We await the full damage assessment from Tonga and are heeding the advice of Tongan leaders we work closely with on ways our efforts can have maximum and sustained impact on the recovery and rebuilding efforts. We understand that the rebuilding process is long-term and will involve considerations for impacts of climate change and other issues facing Tonga and want to contribute to sustained relationships and contributions to Tonga and the Pacific region at large.

 

We thank you for any help that your heart calls you to and invite you to join our collective effort as a partner organization if you'd like to. We have regular update meetings and plan to continue to learn more about similar issues impacting our families in the Pacific. We want to thank 'Anamatangi Polynesian Voices, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in East Palo Alto, for being the fiscal receiver of our fundraising effort. We are honored to be standing side by side with each other in these efforts.

 

Tu'a 'ofa atu,

United by an Ocean Tonga Relief Effort

 

Picture Credit: Malau Media