The Kava Initiation Ceremony

KAITAIA (New Zealand) - The Matapule’s sonorous voice echoed throughout the hall, as the female Tou’a carefully stirred a mixture of the pounded Kava root with water inside the Tano’a (Bowl). On the wall behind the Matapule draped the Ngatu (Decorated Bark Cloth) with a giant palm tree leaf standing on either side. Strewn across the floor were more fine mats on which the Men & Women of the ‘Tonga Ma’a Tonga’ National Basketball Team sat cross-legged, opposite each other and thus formulating the alofi (Kava ring).