TONGAN HOA: INSEPARABLE YET INDISPENSABLE PAIRS/ BINARIES

Authors

Pā‘utu-‘O-Vava‘u-Lahi, Adriana M. Lear, University of Wollongong
Kolokesa U. Māhina-Tuai, Lagi-Maama Academy & Consultancy
Sione L. Vaka, Auckland University of Technology
Maui-TāVā-He-Akó, Tēvita O. Kaʻili, Brigham Young University Hawai‘i
Hūfanga-He-Ako-Moe-Lotu, ‘Ōkusitino Māhina, Vava‘u Academy for Critical Inquiry and Applied Research

Abstract

We dissect hoaism as a fundamental in Tongan philosophical thinking and feeling that is based in the concept and practice of hoa as inseparable yet indispensable pairs/binaries, with examples taken from across nature, mind, and society. From a tāvāist philosophical perspective, everywhere in reality, as in nature, mind, and society, is intersection, and there is nothing above and beyond connection and separation. This is derived from the general tāvāist fact that all things in reality stand in eternal relations of exchange, giving rise to order and conflict, both having the same logical status, when equal and opposite identities, entities, or tendencies meet at a common point, defined by a state of noa 0 or zero-point. The same applies to the mata-ava eye-hole, as a hoa pair/binary, where both are everywhere in reality and there is nothing over and above mata eye, and ava hole.

Recommended Citation

Lear, Pā‘utu-‘O-Vava‘u-Lahi, Adriana M.; Māhina-Tuai, Kolokesa U.; Vaka, Sione L.; Kaʻili, Maui-TāVā-He-Akó, Tēvita O.; and Māhina, Hūfanga-He-Ako-Moe-Lotu, ‘Ōkusitino (2021) "TONGAN HOA: INSEPARABLE YET INDISPENSABLE PAIRS/ BINARIES," Pacific Studies Journal: Vol. 44: No. 1, Article 3.
Available at: https://digitalcollections.byuh.edu/pacific-studies-journal/vol44/iss1/3