The Home Reef volcano, just north of the main island, erupts eight times in two days.

After underwater earthquake at huge volcano hunga tonga, the island is hit by falling ash and tsunami. There is substantial flooding and damage.

Sioasi Sovaleni supporters have won sixteen of twenty-six seats in the Legislative Assembly, making him the likely next prime minister. His only rival candidate, 'Aisake Eke, had the backing of the former prime minister Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa. The election was held 11/18.

Siaosi Sovaleni, long-time public servant and not a member of the DPFI, is elected prime minister.

Elections for 17 of the 26 members of the legislature. The thirty-three designated noble families will choose the nine others.

Pacific Island Forum (Cook Islands, Fiji, Nauru, Tonga and Samoa attending, with Australia and New Zealand sitting in. Other members include Federated States of Micronesia, French Polynesia, Kiribati, New Caledonia, Niue, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu) opens with an address by US Pres Joe Biden, who urges the Federated States of Micronesia to rejoin the group, which boycotted over disagreement with the election of the Cook Islands’ Henry Puna as Secretary General, in contravention of traditional order. Fiji president Frank Bainimarama, attempted to make amends, with little success. Kausea Natano, prime minister of Tuvalu and departing chair of the PIF, points to the climate crisis as the greatest threat to the islands. It is a contentious issue for Australia, which has refused to commit to net-zero emissions by 2050. Biden commits US to net-zero emissions. Japan’s emission of polluted water from the Fukushima plant is also a concern.

Cyclone Harold hits Tonga.

Tonga pays overdue fees in order to retain its voting rights in UN.

Tonga authorities report death threats on social media against Tongan Prime Minister Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa.

Tonga reports outbreak of measles.

Pōhiva dies.

Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa, former private secretary to King Topou VI, is elected prime minister.

Vanuatu, Antigua, Barbuda, and Tonga are designated most at risk to climate change effects in the 2019 World Risk Report published Thursday by the Institute of International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict.

ʻAkilisi Pōhiva dies at the age of 78. Parliament is suspended indefinitely. Partly because of Pohiva’s push for democratic reforms, Tonga became a constitutional monarchy in 2010 and now has representative elections for parliament, however, reverence for the monarchy remains strong and the country has strict sedition laws.

Suffering from pneumonia, Tongan Prime Minster ʻAkilisi Pōhiva is rushed from hospital in Nukuʻalofa to one in Auckland, New Zealand, where he was treated for a liver condition earlier this year. According to a government spokesperson, Pōhiva is in a "very serious" condition.

Tonga Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva holding talks with other Pacific island nations about approaching China to forgive debt amid mounting fears that China may start seizing assets. He point to China’s taking possession of a port in Sri Lanka and negotiating to build a military vase in Vanuatu. Both China and Vanuatu have denied the latter. Vanuatu has a $115 million debt with China.

The DPFI wins in a landslide and Pōhiva is reelected prime minister.

King Topou VI fires Prime Minister Pōhiva, finding him difficult to work with. New elections are called.

ʻAkilisi Pōhiva of the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands, is elected prime minister.

Tonga gains independence from the UK.