Liahona High School Community Celebrates Diamond Anniversary

Alumni and friends from throughout the world gathered in Liahona, Tonga, 10-16 July 2023, to commemorate the 75th Diamond Anniversary of Liahona High School.

The school was established by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1948, as a successor to a previous Church school, known as Makeke College. It was originally called Liahona College but was given its current name in 1959. It has been central to the growth of the Church in Tonga.

Elder Taniela B. Wakolo, General Authority Seventy, and a member of the Pacific Area Presidency, presided at the celebration, and was accompanied by his wife, Anita, and Elder Sione F. Tuione, Area Seventy.

Joining Elder and Sister Wakolo and Elder Tuione as special guests were Richard and Ofa Kaufusi, mission leaders for the Church’s Tonga Nuku'alofa Mission; Lord Tuilakepa, Member of Parliament; Veivosa Taka, Member of Parliament; and Lady Dulcie Elaine Tei, Member of Parliament.

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The celebration brought alumni, friends and family from New Zealand, Australia, and the U.S. to the island kingdom, with direct connections to the school or to ancestors that went to school there.

Elder Wakolo recognised Liahona alumni who have served in various callings as lay leaders of local congregations and commended them for their service.

Patrick Taufa, a member of the national communications council for Tonga, said the entire affair was such a wonderful opportunity to minister to others, bringing people back together from all walks of life, who had attended the high school through the years.

“So many people expressed how grateful they were for the opportunity to enjoy one another’s company again,” he said. “Everyone remarked how great it was to feel such a great spirit of unity and love.”

“This event celebrated Liahona High and gave us a chance to remember the blessing this school has been for so many people and their families through the years,” said Melelua Langi, national communications director for Tonga. “It was, indeed, a fun week of eating our native foods and bringing families together again.”

The week-long event included cultural presentations and performances, singing and dancing, food, fun, and nightly dances.

Langi said the Liahona reunion float created a festival atmosphere and “was the talk of the town and on the internet.”

She said that ultimately this celebration showed that Liahona High alumni, who are organised by chapters all over the world, “really love their school.”

“They came in huge numbers, renewed friendships, and performed our cultural dances to show their love and support for Liahona High School,” she said.