Hake Kilikili - Her Late Majesty Queen Halaevalu Mata'aho, the Queen Mother

Royal funerary ceremony - Hake Kilikili - tending the Royal Tomb of Her Late Majesty Queen Halaevalu Mata'aho, the Queen Mother interred with His Late Majesty King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV. Royal grandchildren and great-grandchildren supported the Nima Tapu of the Ha'a Tufunga Royal undertaker clan in the Hake Kilikili ceremony. The kilikili (black volcanic stones) were washed and immersed with Tongan oil, transferred into baskets and elevated by a chain of Nima Tapu to dress the Royal Tomb along with wreaths presented by Her Royal Highness Princess Salote Mafile'o Pilolevu Tuita and three of the Queen Mother's great-grandchildren Hon. Simon Ma'ulupekotofa, Hon. Michaela Mary Rose Halaevalu, and Hon. Fatafehi Tuʻivakanō. The Royal Tombs, Mala‘ekula, Nuku'alofa, Tongatapu, The Kingdom of Tonga. 9th March, 2017.