[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 30, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H8797-H8798]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN TRIBUTE TO HIS ROYAL MAJESTY KING TAUFA'AHAU TUPOU OF THE KINGDOM OF 
                                 TONGA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from American Samoa [Mr. Faleomavaega] is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the 
outstanding leadership and distinguished service of one of the South 
Pacific's most honored heads of state, His Majesty King Taufa'Ahau 
Tupou IV of the Kingdom of Tonga.
  His Majesty King Taufa'Ahau Tupou IV, the eldest son in the royal 
family, was born at the royal palace in Nuku'alofa on July 4, 1918. As 
crown prince, he studied in Australia at Newington College and the 
University of Sydney, where he received bachelor of arts and bachelor 
of law degrees.
  His Majesty was the first Tongan ever to receive university degrees. 
In addition to academic accomplishments, he excelled in athletics, 
being a member of the university's championship rugby and rowing teams.
  Upon concluding academic studies, His Majesty was appointed to the 
cabinet of the Tongan Government with the portfolio of Minister of 
Education, and later as Minister of Health. In 1949, he became the 
premier of Tonga, thus acquiring additional portfolios in foreign 
affairs, education, and agriculture. From early on, His Majesty has 
carried the major burden of the kingdom of Tonga's administration as 
well as development.
  During His Majesty's 16 year term as premier, Tonga benefited 
tremendously from his guiding hand, resulting in steady development and 
economic advancement of the kingdom. Due to his efforts, education 
standards were dramatically improved in Tonga with the establishment 
and expansion of public high school and college systems. In the 
business sector, His Majesty pushed for the creation of the Tongan 
copra board, the Tongan produce board, the agricultural council and the 
government fishing fleet--the backbone of the kingdom's economy. Under 
his able leadership, public communications and the media were also 
facilitated, with the establishment of the Tongan broadcasting 
commission and the local newspaper, the Tonga chronicle, now in its 
31st year on publication.
  In 1965, with the passage of her late Majesty Queen Salote Tupou III, 
the crown prince was proclaimed King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV and coronation 
ceremonies were held in 1967. The remarkable progress achieved in the 
kingdom of Tonga during His Majesty's years of leadership has gained 
the respect of overseas nations and contributed to positive relations 
with international neighbors. His Majesty, in particular, has fostered 
close relations with the United Kingdom, which provides substantial 
financial support for Tonga's continued economic improvement.
  Mr. Speaker, this Friday in Utah, His Majesty King Taufa'ahau Tupou 
IV will be honored again--this time by the Seacology Foundation for His 
Majesty's efforts in protection of the environment.
  The Seacology Foundation is a nonprofit foundation founded to help 
protect island ecosystems and island cultures. Seacology scientists 
include experts in endangered species, island Flora and Fauna, and 
island ecosystems. One hundred percent of the money donated to 
seacology goes directly to building schools, hospitals, installing safe 
water supplies, and meeting the other needs of the indigenous people 
who live near the rain forests so that these people will not have to 
sell off the rain forest to survive. Seacology scientists donate their 
time as well.
  His Majesty King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV has been selected to receive 
this year's Seacology Foundation award as ``indigenous conservationist 
of the year'' for providing royal protection for the peka, or flying 
fox, colony in Kolovai village in Tongatapu, and for his protection of 
the primary forests of 'Eua island, and or supporting the establishment 
of a system of nature preserves throughout the kingdom of Tonga. His 
Majesty has also spent lifelong service as an interpreter and 
custondian of Tongan culture, both ancient and modern. The history and 
culture of the Tongan people are among the most ancient and historical 
among the Polynesian people. As a letter from the Seacology Foundation 
to His Majesty notifying him of the award explains, none of these 
achievements would have occurred without his strong leadership and 
support.
  Mr. Speaker, I deeply congratulate His Majesty King Taufa'ahau Tupou 
IV and the Seacology Foundation for all their efforts and I would 
submit for the Record a copy of a letter from Dr. Paul Alan Cox, PH.D., 
chairman of the board of Seacology Foundation to His Majesty. Mr. 
Speaker, it is indeed an honor to call on my colleagues and our great 
Nation to join me in recognizing the outstanding and exemplary service 
of His Majesty King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV on behalf of the good people of 
Tonga, the Pacific region, and our global community.
  Mr. Speaker, I submit for the Record a copy of the letter to His 
Majesty from Dr. Paul Cox of the Seacology Foundation.

                                                December 15, 1995.
     His Majesty King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV,
     The Kingdom of Tonga.
       Your Royal Highness: It is with deepest respect that I 
     inform your royal highness that you have been selected as the 
     1996 Indigenous Conservationist of the Year by the Seacology 
     Foundation. This annual award is made to honor those 
     indigenous people who have performed heroic service in 
     preserving their own ecosystems and cultures.
       After careful consideration of the activities of your 
     majesty in providing royal protection for the peka or flying 
     fox colony in Kolovai Village in Tongatapu island (which is 
     the oldest flying fox refuge in the world), for your 
     protection of the primary forest of `Eua island, for your 
     support in establishing a system of nature preserves 
     throughout the Kingdom of Tonga, and for your life-long 
     service as an interpreter and custodian of Tongan culture, 
     both ancient and modern, the Scientific Advisory Board of the 
     Seacology Foundation has unanimously voted to honor your 
     majesty with this award, which is the most prestigious 
     conservation award for indigenous people in the world.
       The Seacology Foundation invites you, at our expense, to 
     attend an award dinner in your honor and a presentation 
     ceremony in Salt Lake City, Utah to receive your award, which 
     will consist of an engraved plaque and a cash award of 
     $1,000. Fine Nau and I will meet with you personally to 
     arrange a convenient date for this event.
       Because of your stellar service, both public and private to 
     conservation, and because of the tremendous example of 
     dedication and courage that you have set for your own 
     people--the Polynesian Islanders--and for indigenous peoples 
     throughout the world, the Seacology Foundation is pleased to 
     bestow upon you the most distinguished award for indigenous 
     conservation in the world by naming you 1996 Indigenous 
     Conservationist of the Year. We offer you our sincere 
     appreciation for your tremendous devotion to protecting this 
     planet.
           Warmest personal regards,
                                      Nafanus Paul Alan Cox, Ph.D,
                                            Chairman of the Board.

  Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield at this time to my good friend 
from the State of Utah [Mr. Hansen].
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my friend yielding in this very 
important assignment that you have brought up, and I concur with the 
gentleman from American Samoa and also would like to add the support of 
the people from my State who have--many, many of our people have gone 
to Tonga. In fact, at the school that you graduated from, BYU, there is 
a number of Tongans there who have shown exemplary type of performance 
both in athletics and academically, and it is a pleasure that we can 
give this tribute to His Majesty, and I join you and thank the 
gentleman for taking this time to bring up this, a very important thing 
for His Majesty from Tonga.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend from Utah.
  It might be of interest, Mr. Speaker, that it was since 1844 that 
when the Mormon Church was founded that missionaries were first sent to 
the South Pacific in the South Seas. So the Polynesian people have had 
a very long and standing relationship with the Mormon Church since 
1844, and because of this, even through His Majesty is not a member of 
the Mormon faith, but certainly most respectful throughout the region 
for his energy a and certainly for his outstanding leadership as one of 
the great leaders in the Pacific region.

[[Page H8798]]

And for this, Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for this opportunity 
and want to wish His Majesty a very most welcomed visit here in our 
country.

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