00:00 The Kingdom of Tonga is a unique culture in the Pacific that ruled an extensive sea-based empire and was never colonized by Europeans.

02:21 Tonga is a unique Polynesian country with a distinct history and geography, consisting of both coral atolls and volcanic islands, and was first settled by the Lapita people around 3,000 years ago.

04:23 The Tongan Empire, also known as the Tui Tonga Empire, began around the year 950 and expanded to include modern-day Tonga, Samoa, American Samoa, Fiji, and other islands in the region, lasting until 1865.

06:23 In the 19th century, Tongan society underwent significant changes due to the influence of European missionaries and a civil war, which resulted in the end of the Tui Tonga line of kings and the rise of the Tupo dynasty, led by King George Tupo I, who implemented various reforms.

08:23 During World War I, Tonga initially declared neutrality but eventually sent a small contingent of soldiers to fight with the New Zealand expeditionary force, while in World War II, Tonga declared war against Germany and Japan, allowing the Americans to establish a military presence on the island, which dramatically changed the country's culture.

10:30 Tonga has undergone significant changes in the 21st century, transitioning from a monarchy dominated by the king and an aristocratic class to a constitutional monarchy with a mostly ceremonial role for the king, although the parliament still has some non-democratically elected seats.

12:34 Tonga's traditional attire includes a tauvala, a wide belt worn by both men and women, and the main island of Tonga Tapu is home to an 800-year-old tri-lithon structure similar to Stonehenge, believed to have been built for astronomical purposes, while the Vavao Islands are known for being one of the best places in the world to see humpback whales.