Fonualei

Geography

The island is the peak of an active volcano which rises 1000m from the seafloor. It has a diameter of 2 km and a maximum height of 188m. The coast is surrounded by cliffs, with only two beaches suitable for a landing. The western, southern, and north-eastern sides have narrow fringing reefs.

History

In the 1830s the inhabitants of Tokū used Fonualei for their gardens.

The first European to sight the island was Don Francisco Mourelle de la Rua on the La Princesa on 26 February 1781. He reported the island to be barren from eruptions, and called it for that reason Amargura (Bitterness in Spanish). It was subsequently seen by La Pérouse on 27 December 1787, and by HMS Pandora during its hunt for the Bounty mutineers, who named it "Gardner’s Island".

A major eruption in 1846, starting 11 June, destroyed much of the vegetation of Vavaʻu and spread ash around for at least a year. Some sources claim that three other neighbouring volcanoes, Late, Tokū and another, erupted at the same time. This is probably a mistake by passing ships who misidentified the erupting island. Another eruption was reported in July 1938.

In the 1980s the island was leased for 30 years to the Chen family as part of a scheme to sell Tongan passports to wealthy foreigners.

In September 2022 scientists mapping marine life noted discolouration in the water near the island and emissions of sulphuric gases.

Ecology

The island has been designated an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International. It is home to a large colony of Sooty terns. Other birds found on the island include the Tongan ground dove, Pacific imperial pigeon, Spotless crake, Australasian swamphen, Polynesian wattled honeyeater, and Polynesian starling. Sea- and shorebirds include the brown and red-footed Booby, the great and Lesser frigatebird, White tern, Red-tailed tropicbird, the black and brown Noddy, Pacific golden plover, and Bristle-thighed curlew. The only land-based mammal is the Insular flying fox. The island is rat-free.

In 1993 Fonualei was assessed as a potential habitat for the critically endangered Tongan megapode. 70 eggs and 10 chicks were translocated. The introduction was successful, and in 2003 the population was estimated at 300 to 500 birds.

References

• D. Gerstle; Gentle people, into the heart of Vavau 1781–1973; Tofua press 1973

References

1. (June 2012). "Magma Evolution in the Primitive, Intra-oceanic Tonga Arc: Rapid Petrogenesis of Dacites at Fonualei Volcano". Journal of Petrology.
2. (1970). "Notes on volcanic activity at Fonualei, Tonga". New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics.
3. Spennemann, Dirk HR. (2004). "The June 1846 Eruption of Fonualei Volcano, Tonga: An Historical Analysis". Johnstone Centre.
4. Sharp, Andrew, ''The discovery of the Pacific Islands'' Oxford 1960, p.149
5. (1 October 1973). "CAPTAIN COOK MET A LIAR SO VAVA'U 'FELL' TO A WEARY SPANIARD". Pacific Islands Monthly.
6. (14 July 1938). "ERUPTION ON ISLAND". The Sun.
7. (1 April 1991). "Stormin' Pohiva fights on". Pacific Islands Monthly.
8. (1 January 1981). "Tonga's passport controversy". Pacific Islands Monthly.
9. Kalino Latu. (5 September 2022). "Fonualei recent volcanic activities spark fears of possible eruptions, tsunami that could affect the whole of Vava'u". Kaniva Tonga.
10. "Fonualei : Summary". BirdLife International.
11. (1 April 1993). "Refugees on remote volcanoes". Pacific Islands Monthly.
12. (24 July 2003). "Megapodes alive and well on Fonualei". Guardian.
13. David J. Butler. (September 2013). "BIRD SURVEYS OF LATE AND FONUALEI ISLANDS, VAVA'U, KINGDOM OF TONGA". SPREP.