{"id":245,"date":"2025-06-08T06:23:15","date_gmt":"2025-06-08T06:23:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/tonga-strictly-keeps-the-sabbath-some-say-its-gone-too-far\/"},"modified":"2025-06-08T06:23:15","modified_gmt":"2025-06-08T06:23:15","slug":"tonga-strictly-keeps-the-sabbath-some-say-its-gone-too-far","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/tonga-strictly-keeps-the-sabbath-some-say-its-gone-too-far\/","title":{"rendered":"Tonga strictly keeps the Sabbath. Some say it’s gone too far"},"content":{"rendered":"
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As Sunday dawns in Tonga’s capital, an unbroken silence blankets the streets.<\/p>\n

Almost every shop in Nuku’alofa — including petrol stations — stays closed.<\/p>\n

Only church bells eventually disturb the quiet, as it comes time to worship.<\/p>\n

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“The Sabbath day here in Tonga is kept very well in my opinion,” US missionary elder ‘Aiona<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

said.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

“Everyone is at home preparing and getting ready for church.<\/p>\n

“[It’s] a blessing we all have.”<\/p>\n

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Sunday trading is common in many countries where Christianity is the predominant religion.<\/p>\n

But Tongans remain some of the world’s most devoted keepers of the Sabbath, a day of rest that falls on Sunday for most Christian denominations.<\/p>\n

It’s even enshrined in the Tongan constitution, which says the day must be kept holy.<\/p>\n

“No person shall practise his trade or profession or conduct any commercial undertaking on the Sabbath Day except according to law,” it says.<\/p>\n

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“Any agreement made or witnessed on that day shall be null and void and of no legal effect.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

But the country’s so-called “Sunday Law” is back in public debate in the devoutly Christian nation.<\/p>\n

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\"Tongan<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
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King Tupou VI has urged Tongans to continue observing the Sabbath. (Wikimedia Commons<\/span>)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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It started with a statement from Tonga’s King Tupou VI, read to its parliament last month, calling on the nation to keep the Sabbath holy.<\/p>\n

Now, some in Tonga are asking whether the nation is strict enough in observing the Sabbath.<\/p>\n

But while some questioned whether Tonga should remove the few exemptions it allows — including those for restaurants that open for tourists — others said there are more meaningful ways to practise their faith.<\/p>\n

Holiness and ‘hypocrites’<\/h2>\n

By mid-morning on Sunday, Tonga’s islands finally stir.<\/p>\n

The roads are lined with people walking to church, wearing their “Sunday best”, in the truest sense of the phrase.<\/p>\n

‘Aiona, Mormon missionary elder, is one of them, and speaking to the ABC, he urged Tongans to hold fast to the Sabbath tradition.<\/p>\n

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Elder ‘Aiona, a Mormon missionary from the US in Tonga. (ABC News: Marian Kupu<\/span>)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“It is so important we keep the Lord’s day fully.”<\/p>\n

Only staff at hospitals, the police force and utilities can work on Sunday under Tongan law.<\/p>\n

There are also exemptions for hotels and restaurants serving tourists — although Tongans also often eat out after church on Sundays.<\/p>\n

But Tonga Police has received complaints about other businesses operating illegally on Sunday, and issued a firm public statement this month.<\/p>\n

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“Sunday is a day for worship and rest — not for business,”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

it said.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

“Let’s respect and live by our culture, our faith and the law by keeping Sunday holy.”<\/p>\n

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Loading Facebook content<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A debate has also unfolded on social media, where some Tongans have questioned the ban on Sunday trading.<\/p>\n

“Holiness is not a ritual confined to a day, but a way of life,” one commenter said.<\/p>\n

“Until righteousness governs our actions and honesty guides our institutions, our outward displays of devotion ring hollow and empty!”<\/p>\n

Another said restaurants not attached to tourism accommodation should close on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Tourism operators argue that without their exemptions, the industry would suffer.<\/p>\n

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Simana Kami (left) says tourism businesses need to be able to operate on Sundays. (Supplied: Simana Kami<\/span>)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“The purpose of the resort is to cater for the people,” Oholei Beach Resort owner Simana Kami said.<\/p>\n

“Otherwise, there will be no more tourists [coming] to Tonga.”<\/p>\n

Mr Kami faced opposition when his resort started operating on Sunday.<\/p>\n

As Cyclone Rene hit Tonga in 2010, a church minister told him it would wipe out his business as punishment.<\/p>\n

But it didn’t, and Mr Kami said operating on Sunday doesn’t conflict with his faith — rather, it supports it.<\/p>\n

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“I share the word of God to the people [on Sunday]. We had a prayer,”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

he said.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

Mr Kami said practising faith isn’t about stopping activity on Sunday, and that many who observe the Sabbath ignore Christian teachings throughout the week.<\/p>\n

“That’s sad for me … People are hypocrites.”<\/p>\n

The spirit of the Sabbath<\/h2>\n

In churches throughout Tonga, the voices of the congregations swell as services get under way.<\/p>\n

Afterwards, families have the day to themselves.<\/p>\n

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Talita Kefu (right) says observing the Sabbath comes down to personal choice. (Supplied: Talita Kefu<\/span>)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On her way back from a service, Talita Kefu agreed that intent matters more than appearance when it comes to faith.<\/p>\n

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“We shouldn’t weaponise the Bible,”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

she said.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

“Development with time is progressing, but Tonga is unique in the sense that we still observe the Sabbath.<\/p>\n

“It comes down to individual choices.”<\/p>\n

Speaking in Nuku’alofa, Lano Fonua said he also sees the Sabbath as special — but believes each person can honour it in their own way.<\/p>\n

He said it was possible to preserve the spirit of the Sabbath while adapting it to modern life.<\/p>\n

“It makes Tonga special on Sunday … As long as it’s respectful and done in the right way,” Mr Fonua said.<\/p>\n

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Lano Fonua says it’s possible to adapt the Sabbath to modern life. (Supplied: Lano Fonua<\/span>)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“Taking your family out after church to go for Chinese food, what’s wrong with that if it’s being done from the right place?”<\/p>\n

Mr Fonua and his family were going to spend much of their Sunday having a family picnic at the beach.<\/p>\n

“That’s what makes it special for us.”<\/p>\n

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Tongans fit in their shopping before businesses close on Sunday. (ABC News: Marian Kupu<\/span>)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It’s not the first time Tonga’s strict observance of the Sabbath has generated so much discussion.<\/p>\n

A government decision to ban bakers from opening on Sunday in 2016 raised outcry.<\/p>\n

In that case, bakeries unsuccessfully pushed to keep their exemption, which started in 1982 when a cyclone hit and the population needed food.<\/p>\n