Kava the Tongan Home Brew

Kava is the traditional drink here in Tonga. Men frequently gather for "Kava Circles" which can go on into the early morning, there are Kava Clubs, Kava Bars, etc. Women do not normally drink Kava altho' shortly after arriving here I was offered some at an informal gathering of the teaching staff. In appearance it is like slightly muddy water and there is not much taste to it. Kava is supposed to have a numbing effect....there is no alcoholic content. I did not notice any effect following the half coconut shell amount that I drank.
Kava is made from an indigenous plant "piper methysticum(lat.)" and is used extensively in traditional ceremonies.
Working in a library I come across some arcane information occasionally and so for those who are interested I will pass along the folklore of the Kava:

"Legend of Kava: There was a couple, Fevanga and Fefafa who lived at the uninhabited island of `Eueiki in order to be with their daughter Kava who had leprosy.
One day the Tu`itonga (King) and his men who had been away at sea fishing for many days and had nothing to eat landed on the island. The King and his party were famished and exhausted and they were hoping to find some food and refreshment on the island. However there was no food left on the island except one Kape crop. Unfortunately, the king, unaware of the situation, went and sat under the Kape plant and rested there. His men searched the island for food and found Fevanga and Fefafa and told them of the king's visit and that they are looking for food.
Fevanga, the father, prepared the `umu (underground oven) and then went to fetch their one Kape crop. When he approached he saw the king sitting with his back against the plant so he went back again without telling the king or his men that the Kape crop under which the king was sitting was the only food remaining on the island. He told Fefafa that the king was sitting under the Kape crop and inspite of their great love for their daughter, Kava, they decided to kill her and cook her for the king.
They proceeded to kill their daughter and baked her in the `umu for the king and his men, but before it was time to take out the `umu the king's men found out what had happened and told the king about it. The king was very sad and felt very sorry for this mother and father who had sacrificed their daughter to provide food for himself and his men and told his men to prepare to leave immediately and to tell this couple not to disturb the `umu ever again and let it be a grave for their child forever.
That king went back to Tongatapu and sometime later Fevanga and Fefafa while tending the grave found two plants starting to grow from the grave, one at the head and one at the foot. One day when they were tending the grave they saw a mouse chewing on the plant at the head of the grave and when it came away it was staggering and swerving about until it got to the plant at the foot of the grave where it started to chew again. After a while when the mouse came from the second plant it was walking in a straight line again. Fevanga and Fafafa came to Tongatapu and informed the king of what had happened, and the king said that plant at the head of the grave will be called Kava after the daughter and the other plant is called to' (sugar cane).
The method of preparation of the Kava and when to use it was then designed but since then the Kava has become the symbol of this land for its story reveals the devotion of its subjects to the king and the love of the king for his people. Kava remains a symbol of "Heart felt love", the love of Fevanga and Fefafa for the Tu`itonga which made them sacrifice their daughter as food for him and at the same time it stands for the appreciation by the king of the action of this couple by refusing to eat.
The Kava during any ceremony is often called the Fonua because in its legend is contained the essence of this Land and its people."...this story was taken almost word for word from a document here in the school library which I don't think has been looked at for years.
Thinking about it reminds me of the many fairy tales and folklore that we have in the European and North American cultures...Sleeping Beauty and Snow White with the wicked Queen lurking in the background...Jack in the beanstalk with the giant ogre, etc. The Brothers Grimm had some bloodthirsty tales.
Anyway, here in Tonga the culture has grown to include certain duties that the commoners owe to the royalty. They must pay tithe in the form of support for example. This custom is starting to give way to the modern world as it becomes more accessible through modern communications. One gigantic step which will be accomplished at the next election is the change over from monarchic rule to democracy. One hopes that this will enable the Tongan people to improve their over all standard of living and move towards the beneficial development that this country could enjoy.