4 Dec 2006

Tongan's in American Samoa and Hawaii to help those at home after riots

11:39 am on 4 December 2006

Tongan families in American Samoa plan to help those in Nuku'alofa that were affected by the last month's riot .

A U.S. military retiree, Sione Kava, says families are pulling together to provide what their relatives in Tonga need while also waiting for word from the Tongan government as to how the overseas community could assist.

Mr Kava says the rioting came as a shock and sadness to the Tongan community in the territory.

Meanwhile, churches and members of the Tongan community in Hawaii plan to raise funds to send to victims of the riot.

The Honolulu Star Bulletin newspaper says that four east Honolulu Methodist churches have already raised more than a thousand US dollars to benefit victims.

Tongan churches plan to hold a luau at the end of the year to benefit the Tongan Relief and Reconstruction Fund.