Ha’amonga ‘a Maui (Trilithon) and ‘esi Maka Fa’akinanga

Most likely this giant structure was created some 800 years ago as a monument of the inseparable royal dynasty of Tonga. There are not many countries in the world with such centuries-old monuments for their unity.

Trilithon

Ha’amonga ‘a Maui is a massive construction which consists of three giant stones – two upright stones and a lintel uniting them.

The stone arch is facing towards the north and south.

Coral limestone

These stones are made of coral limestone, most probably mined just a few hundred meters away, at the sea coast.

This stone initially is soft and fragile, it can be easily shaped in the desired form. Later, after some decades, it becomes hard.

Surface and form

The coral stone is very porous and thus it is not possible to polish it – but nevertheless, the surfaces of the stones are very flat and edges – straight.

The stones are carefully squared and shaped. Nevertheless, they are not perfect and the upright stones have different sizes and forms.

In later centuries the stonemasons of Tonga reached a higher level of craftsmanship. It is known that in the 17th century when this art in Tonga reached the highest level, there were professional masons. Their skills were used to create the megalithic burials of the kings – langi.

Dimensions

Western upright stone rises 5.2 m high above the ground. It is 4.3 m wide at the base and 3.7 m wide at the top and 1.4 m thick.

Eastern upright stone is 4.7 m high, 4.1 m wide at the base, and 3.4 m wide at the top, its average thickness also is 1.4 m.

The lintel is 5.8 m long, 1.4 m wide and 0.6 m thick.

The upright stones are divided by 3.8 m distance.

It is estimated that the visible parts of upright stones weigh some 30 – 40 tons.

Mortises

The use of mortises in megalithic monuments is rare – and Ha’amonga ‘a Maui might be the most extreme example of such a technique.

The mortises are several inches wider than the lintel, most likely to avoid the fracture of the upright stones in a case of imperfections during the build process or later incline. The depth of lintels makes the upper rim of the lintel even with the upright stones.

Stability and perfection

Such a heavy construction would inevitably incline if it would not have a firm fundament. The structure seems to be slanting, but nevertheless, it has been standing for long centuries, in spite of its impressive weight.

Both upright stones go at least 0.6 m deep in the ground and, most likely, reach the limestone bedrock.

In the 19th century the roots of an enormous banyan tree entangled the western upright stone but happily did not move it. King George Tupoi I ordered to remove the tree.

Legends

Ha’amonga ‘a Maui is unique and ancient. No wonder that this monument is surrounded by legends – ancient and modern ones.

Legend about Maui

The fairy tales of Tongans tell that this monument was made by Maui – because no mortals would be able to handle such giant slabs of stone. Maui obtained the stones in the ‘Uvea (some 900 km far away) and carried them to Tonga in a giant canoe.

This legend has given a contemporary name to the monument. Ha’amonga means – a stick with loads on both ends (a yoke), which is carried over the shoulder. Thus it means "A carrying stick of Maui".

"Stonehenge" of Pacific

As the Stonehenge was declared to be an archaeoastronomical monument in 1963, soon after (in 1967) the king of Tonga Tāufa’āhau Tupou IV came up with a theory that the complex in Ha’amonga also is linked to astronomy. It reportedly helps to tell the position of sunrise at solstices and equinoxes. There is no firm evidence for this theory, although the respectable opinion of the king has left much influence on the opinion of Tongans.

There is a "V" mark on the top of the lintel. The legs of this "V" point at solstice directions. This drawing was copied on the land – but this copy disappeared before 1990.

The "V" mark on the lintel is too small (just 10 cm long) to provide useful indications for exact direction. Also, the mark on the ground was "adjusted" – rotated a bit to show the true direction of the solstice.

History of Ha’amonga ‘a Maui

No mysteries

As it is characteristic of many megalithic structures, Ha’amonga ‘a Maui is surrounded by some mysticism. Nevertheless, the history behind the creation of this megalith and its construction technique is known and documented.

Tu’i Tonga dynasty

The political stability and even – the survival of Tonga as an independent country – was secured by the long-lasting rule of Tu’i Tonga dynasty. The rule of these mighty kings started sometimes around 900 AD and lasted until 1865, when died the last king of this dynasty – Fatafehi Lafilitonga.

Tu’i Tonga managed to unite the scattered Tonga islands under a single rule and for a while, they managed to create a kind of Pacific empire. The height of expansion of these kings was reached under the 10th king Momo and his son – the 11th king – Tu’itatui.

The name of Tu’itatui means – "king who strikes the knee". This nickname has been created by the habit of the king to strike with a heavy pole the knees of the people who would approach him too close. This was not just a caprice – it seems that the king experienced assassination attempts.

It was Tu’itatui who built Ha’amonga ‘a Maui – the largest megalithic monument in this part of the Pacific.

Keepers of the royal history

The monarchy of Tonga did not possess its own system of writing and thus we do not have written chronicles of this kingdom. But this problem was solved in a different way – there was a noble family whose task was to memorize the important events and to hand over these memories to the next generations.

Thus in the early 20th century a member of this noble family – Tamale of Haameniuli – told a story about the construction of Ha’amonga ‘a Maui many centuries ago.

Maybe we can not prove that this story is absolutely correct but there are no serious reasons to put it in doubt.

Concerns about the unity of Tonga

King Tu’itatui had two sons – the elder son Lafa and the younger one – Talaihaapepe. It seems obvious that the king was concerned about the fate of his kingdom and his own family after his death – may be brothers did not go along well or maybe the king was just very farsighted and attentive.

Works

Tu’itatui used his influence and started voluminous works. A large number of people were called to build a monument of unseen concept and proportions.

Tamale of Haameniuli even remembered the building technology of the monument – it involved numerous people, transporting the stones on wooden slits and placing the stones in place with the help of earthen inclines and wooden constructions.

‘esi Maka Fa’akinanga

When one passed through the megalithic archway, after some 50 m he would reach ‘esi Maka Fa’akinanga ("stone to lean against"). King sat at this enormous standing stone, with a back to this stone and thus safe from assassins who could attack from the back.

Monument to royal brotherhood

The giant archway symbolized the unity of the royal family. The eastern upright stone symbolized the elder son Lafa and the western upright stone – the younger son Talaihaapepe. The lintel symbolized the inseparable link of brotherhood between both brothers.

It is not known whether the monument helped to keep the bond between the sons – but most likely it was a very efficient tool of sympathetic magic (as most monuments in the world are – also today).

The construction process of the archway involved many people, much effort. The result was very impressive and well known far away. Thus both brothers had to be very careful to keep the sympathies of all the people.

All Tongans certainly gained a lot from this monument to the unity – because we all know that even a bad peace is much better than a good war.

References

1. McKern, W. C. Archaeology of Tonga. Bernice P. Bishop Museum, Bulletin 60. Honolulu, 1929.