Utah Tongans to hold a memorial for king today

Members of Utah's Tongan community and their friends will come together today to mourn Tonga's long-reigning King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV.

Tupou, who ruled Tonga for 41 years, died Sept. 10 at age 88. The multi-faith memorial service will be 7 to 9 p.m. at the Bountiful Regional Center, 835 N. 400 East, in North Salt Lake.

Utah has one of the largest populations of Tongans outside of Tonga. The 2000 Census lists 6,587 Utahns as of Tongan descent.

Many of Utah's Tongan immigrants maintain strong ties to their homeland, where preparations are under way for a funeral on Tuesday. King Siaosi Tupou V has succeeded him to the throne, and some in Utah's Tongan community say they're uncertain what the change in leadership will mean.

Fotu Katoa, director of the Utah Office of Pacific Islander Affairs and a native of Tonga, said the memorial will serve as a "goodbye to pay tribute and respect, as well as welcoming the new king."

In the past two years, pushes for democratic reform in the small Pacific nation have grown under economic pressures, resulting in demonstration marches and a public servant strike in 2005.

Katoa said even those pushing for democratic reforms maintain a reverence for the monarchy. The memorial service will bring the Tongan community together, he said.

"Being Tongan, we all know and accept the king, even though we may not agree with all the decision-making," Katoa said. "Even those who are protesting will be at this service and unite at this service. ... Respect is very important to the Tongan people."

Katoa said there is always uncertainty when there is change in leadership. He said the new king, also a businessman, has taken what Katoa sees as the positive step of selling his business acquisitions.

In Utah, some in the Tongan community said they weren't sure exactly what the change in leadership would mean for their families back home or for democratic reform.

Fili Uipi, a former state representative, was denied entry to his homeland in 1992 when he had been invited to speak at a democracy conference. He was among those who expressed hope that the new king would help democratic change progress peacefully.

"Unless people recognize they have the power to make changes, there will never be changes," he said. "People are beginning to realize they have the power. ... It's for the better."

Anapesi Ka'ili, a doctoral student at the University of Utah and a co-owner of the online magazine www.planet-tonga.com/, said the people elect only nine of Tonga's 33 members of parliament — the rest are appointed by the king or represent nobles.