Connect
Donate and connect!
EMPOWERING
Do it and do it now
Falevai elementary
Advocating for higher education in remote areas
Giving Hands
Remember and give!
efforts
Think and help!
Priority
Focus and share!
Memipa 'oe TMTUSA 'ihe Pasifiki
Talekita Pelikani 'Aho
Director Pelikani ‘Aho was a boy who grew up on the Island of Tafahi, also known as the PIU-‘O-TAFAHI, located by the Island of Niuatoputapu in the Kingdom of Tonga. ‘Aho attended Elementary school there with a curriculum adopted from the British government. Inspired by the importance of education, his family moved to the main Island, Tongatapu, looking for a better opportunity. Witnessing the physical labor and hard work of his loving and caring parents, ‘Aho determined to pursue higher education.
Such determination for higher education became a reality when 'Aho was granted an opportunity to study in the United States of America in the State of Hawaii. The transition from the British school curriculum to the United States school curriculum was rigid and tough, yet adjustable and adaptable. During his schooling in the United States, ‘Aho and many of his friends enjoyed the diversity and flexibility of learning.
‘Aho earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education, started a family, and returned to serve in the country that he adores and respects. ‘Aho’s contribution to his family is applauded, and service to his community is recognized. Likewise, ‘Aho is rendering his talent and knowledge to lead, build, and safeguard the country he loves and the community he calls home.
Palesiteni Taniela Samate
Kuo fili 'e he poate talekita 'ae TMTUSA 'a Taniela Samate koe Palesiteni 'ihe Vahefonua Vava'u.
Ko Taniela Samate na'e tupu hake pe 'i he Vahefonua Vava'u. Na'a ne ako ai pe 'i he lautohi pule'anga 'a Fangatongo pea hoko atu ai pe kihe ako ma'olunga 'a Vava'u. Koe tokotaha 'oku mo'ui 'ai 'ae lotu pea moe mahu'inga 'oe famili. Hilioo ai 'a 'ene 'ofa fonua pea mate'aki'i 'ae mahu'inga 'oe ako faka'atamai kihe hakotupu 'oe fonua.
'Oku ne lolotonga hoko koe faiako pea mo hono hoa'ofa'anga ki hono ako'i mo hono teuteu'i 'oe hakotupu 'oe fonau kihe kaha'u. Pea 'ihe'ene pehe 'oku ne lolotonga fakakaungatamaki pea mo hono hoa 'ofa'anga - Viola Samate 'ihe polokalama ako efiafi 'ae Talau 'ihe meimei ta'u nai 'eni 'e uangofulu tupu.
'Oku 'i ai 'ena ki'i fanau pea 'oku nau lau pe 'a Talau ko 'api ia.
Tukufonua Ma 'a Tonga Giving Hands
Technology
Technology
Technology
Education
Technology
Technology
Government
Government
Government
Culture
Government
Government
The Word Tukufonua and Its Linguistics
Tuku - Fonua
The Word Tukufonua and Its Linguistics
By Dr. Veamoniti Lautaha
Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Tukufonua ma ‘a Tonga of the United States of America, Inc.
The Tongan word "tukufonua" simply means giving away land. The word has a deep meaning in the linguistic domain with respect to the Tongan people, their societies, communities, and their cultural values. It was first coined by the monarch of the Kingdom of Tonga, King George Tupou I, when He gave the country of Tonga to be protected by the God of Heaven. Such a word contains five vowel sounds (1-tu, 2-ku, 3-fo, 4-nu, & 5-a) and it is created by two root words, 'tuku' and 'fonua'.
Morphologically, the word ‘tuku’ could represent various English verbs like give, adjust, place, deliver, end, stop, finish, or conclude. The word tuku’s linguistic elements could be a prefix or a suffix, and when tuku is added to a word’s base and root, a new word is created and a new meaning is considered. Here are some examples of the affixes of the word ‘tuku’: tukufonua, tukumai, tukuhake, tukuloto’i, or tatuku, tutuku, or tautautuku. Therefore, the word ‘tuku’ implies giving, parting, or discharging of something from its current location to a new one.
Moreover, the semantics of the word ‘tuku’ itself could be articulated in different scenarios. First, ‘tuku’ could represent the giving away of physical items from one place to another by people or by nature. Second, ‘tuku’ could also represent the end of a current event or lifestyle, or something completely, such as the end of a show, a meeting, a game, or a water tripping or a waving sea. And third, ‘tuku’ could simply mean to move, adjust, or place something from one location to another, such as move a load upward, adjust an object to the right, or place a book from the floor to a bookshelf.
On the other hand, the Tongan word ‘fonua’ simply means a country, land, and/or a place. Just like when King George Tupou I gave His country to be protected by our Father in Heaven. In the context of “Tukufonua in Pouono, Vava’u,” the Monarch was referring to the ‘fonua’ or land to the people of Tonga, the soil, the rocks, the animals, the trees, and the ocean and its living things, to be protected by God. Linguistically, the morphology of the word ‘fonua’ can also be a prefix or a suffix. Here are some examples of the affixes of the word ‘fonua’: tukufonua, lotofonua, fungafonua, ‘ofafonua, hikifonua, fonuamahu, fonualoto, fonuamaka, and fonua’one’one. Thus, the word ‘fonua’ in the Tongan linguistics refers to a country, a place, a graveyard, a womb, and a land.
Ma 'a - Tonga
The word 'ma 'a' in the content of of the phrase “Tukufonua ma ‘a Tonga is the preposition 'to', which is used as a preposition of movement or direction. On the other hand, ‘Tonga’ represents the Kingdom of Tonga despite its geographical meaning for the South.
Principle of Giving
At Tukufonua Ma'a Tonga, we believe in the power of community. Join us in our mission to uplift those in need by volunteering your time or resources. Together, we can create lasting change and improve the lives of many. Every effort counts, and your involvement can inspire others to join the cause. Let's work together to make a difference.
Tukufonua ma 'a Tonga Projects
Computer lab pilot testing in Talau, Neiafu, Vava'u, Tonga
PROJECT
Tukufonua ma ‘a Tonga is pilot testing the use of a small computer network lab in Talau, Neiafu, Vava'u, Tonga. The computer lab will comprise 10 Chromebook laptops, one projector, Modem, Wifi Router, a printer, and electrical components.
BACKGROUND
In 2013, the Kingdom of Tonga was connected with an underwater fiber-optic high-speed Internet cable to the rest of the world via Fiji Island. The Vava'u group is the second-largest group of islands in the Kingdom of Tonga, connected by the miraculous power of the underwater fiber-optic high-speed Internet cable. Talau is one of the major towns in Vava'u equipped with a cellular tower located on Mount Talau. Talau town has a high school, intermediate school, and primary school. Unfortunately, these schools and most families are not able to provide sufficient computer laptops for students to access the Internet. Likewise, high school students have limited access to the use of computer laptops during school hours and zero access during after-school hours. Thus, providing laptop devices for students to use is a giant step for students to connect to online learning available on cloud computing.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this project is to empower the use of the Internet in remote areas such as Talau town by contributing computer laptops for students to access online learning during after-school hours. The project will assist students with online exams, video tutorials, essay writing, senior projects research, and abroad scholarship opportunities search.
Computer lab pilot testing in Falevai, Vava'u, Tonga
PROJECT
Tukufonua ma ‘a Tonga is pilot testing the use of a small computer network lab in Falevai, Vava'u, Tonga. The computer lab will comprise 5 Chromebook laptops, one projector, Modem, Wifi Router, a printer, and electrical components.
BACKGROUND
Falevai village is on the remote island of Kapa located 6.5 miles away from the capital, Neiafu. The island of Kapa is equipped with a cellular tower allowing mobile devices such as laptops, Chromebooks, and smartphones to access the Internet and cloud computing technology. The distance relating to cellular communication from Neiafu to Falevai is represented by the red-line. The distance use by students for traveling by boat, twice a week on Sundays and Friday is represented by the black line. Families on these remote islands are not able to provide sufficient computer laptops for students to access the Internet. Thus, providing laptop devices for students to use is a giant step for students to connect to online learning available on cloud computing.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this project is to empower the use of the Internet in remote areas such as Falevai village by contributing computer laptops for students to access online learning during after-school hours. The project will assist students with online exams, video tutorials, essay writing, senior projects research, and abroad scholarship opportunities search.
About Us
Purpose
To inspire individuals and families with the philosophy of greater giving hands to the Kingdom of Tonga through the sphere of technology, education, government, and culture to empower, promote, and advocate the perceived usefulness of computer technologies for online learning, higher education, transparent governance, and authentic cultures and thereby safeguard the sovereignty of the Monarch while embracing the ideology of democracy.
Vision
A world where greater giving hands lift one another to reach their greatness.
Mission
To promote, empower, and advocate giving hands to the Kingdom of Tonga.
Values
Respect
Humility
Loyalty
Sharing
TMT, Inc is accepting Chromebook and school supplies donations at Waipahu, Hawaii, USA
We are reaching out to you and humbly ask you for your generous donations of Chromebooks and school supplies. We are aiming to fill a 44"x44" plywood box with school supplies and 20 Chromebooks.
20 Chromebook Laptops:
1. Price for one device is $187.43 (as in 2021) at Walmart
2. Model: Acer Chromebook 315
3. Color: Pure Silver
4. P/N: NX.HKBAA.002
5. RMN: N19Q3
6. OS: Google Chrome Operating System
Processor: Intel(R) Celenon(R) processor N4000
7. LCD: 15.6" HD Acer Comfy View LCD
8. Graphics: Intel(R) UHD Graphics
9. Memory: 4 GB Memory
10. 48Wh Li-ion battery
School Supplies:
1. Emergent readers for beginning and fluent
2. Reading materials grade 1 to 6
3. A4 size copy paper of any colors
4. Notebook any sizes
5. Pencil and crayon any sizes, and
6. Posters and charts
So far, we have collected 4 Chromebooks and some school supplies.
You can drop off your donations at Waipahu and please call 808-763-6827 for the address and delivery time.
Your donations and contribution will help us to help the students in Vava'u improve the quality of their after-school learning and advocate higher education overseas. Likewise, we are committed to doing our business with accuracy and transparency. Therefore if you wish to help our vision but needed to claim your donations on your tax returns, our EIN is provided here for that purpose.
Although a taxpayer who has donated money to a charity needs the taxpayer identification (taxpayer ID) number from the nonprofit organization to get a tax deduction, TMT is currently not qualified as a nonprofit charity 501(c)(3) organization in the United States of America. However, we are working on that piece of our business structure by strategically applying to become an educational nonprofit 501(C)(3).
Our Employer Identification Number (EIN) from IRS is EIN 85-1201585. The purpose of this EIN is to identify TMT, Inc., our business accounts, tax returns, and documents, even if we do not have employees.
Tonga Web Technology
Tonga Web Technology is a virtual service entity aiming to facilitate communication between the Tukufonua Ma'a Tonga in Hawaii and the volunteer workers in the Kingdom of Tonga in the selection of remote locations to establish a computer lap, equip with Chromebooks to access the Internet and cloud computing aiming to support the after-school learning of students and the teaching of volunteered teachers in different subjects.