How to pronounce “tonga” in English

So this is in Tonga.

as a Tongan Japanese-American here in the United States.

My parents are originally from Tonga.

So that is the legacy of a Tongan.

that we can up-level the people of Tonga in learning tech skills.

Yeah, Tonga Room was designed by a Hollywood guy back in the '40s, and it looks like a movie set.

And so that's something that is ingrained in us as Tongan Americans.

Sione, whose parents originate from the kingdom of Tonga, was born and raised in Glendale, Utah.

Now, one interesting fact about Tonga is that there's actually no word in the Tongan language for "cousin", "aunt", or "uncle."

If you are my cousin, in the Tongan culture, you are my brother or my sister.

So with that said, as a Tongan American, being born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, naturally

named Raymond Uno, who both rallied around the Tongan and Japanese communities on my behalf.

And he says, because I'm Tongan.

And he just mentioned it, as a Tongan American, one thing as Pacific Islanders, our people historically travel to certain islands.

In the top right corner, that's the prime minister of Tonga.

And so helping set that expectation that the reason why our family has come here from Tonga to America is to make sure that we have a better

Thankfully, local advocates-- there was a lady named Fahina Pasi of the National Tongan Honor Society, and a very prominent local Japanese judge

And essentially, as I go back to my background as a young Tongan kid in Glendale, Utah, I finally felt like sales was really a legal hustle.

If you don't know him, he is one of the first Tongans to play in the NFL.

And so in closing, and my thoughts is that basically with my Tongan heritage and Japanese heritage, not only am I blessed with this element--

and I know all of you, all of you Tongans or Pacific Islanders are-- that there's an element of fearlessness, but also

I remember in high school when we would gather around the lunch table with all of my fellow Tongans or Samoans

And I'll mention also that all of Southeast Alaska-- this area through here-- is under protection of the Tongass National Forest, which is the largest National Forest

And also, they have a really ambitious plan to protect the whale migration corridor that goes not just past New Zealand, but all the way up to Tonga.

I mean, if you look at the flag that I had showed on the initial slide, it exemplifies what Tonga is all about.

And as you've alluded there, you come from rich heritage, not only from Tonga but also from Japan.

are usually strong Islander teams such as Samoa, Fiji, and Tonga are also strong Then there's England, Europe, since it was originated in England, there's England, France,

And like the Tonga Room-- that's an old tiki place.

I love the picture that you painted there at the end with Vai Sikahema saying that there's no way that he's going to lose because he's Tongan,

He says, "Malo toko," which means, "Thank you, brother," in Tongan.