During World War II, Texas born Andrew B. White Sr. (later nicknamed Pai Pai) was deployed by Uncle Sam to Wallis Island, a French territory near Tonga. It was there that Pai Pai realized his talents as a natural linguist, and he soon became the only one of the nearly 4000 U.S. servicemen to become fluent in the Wallisian language. Thus, he developed a kinship with the local people and was summoned by the islands monarch, King Leone Matekitoga. The king was so impressed with the talents of the young Marine, he eventually adopted Pai Pai formally and dubbed him Prince Mulikihaamea Matekitoga.
After the war, the young prince settled in California, however, unable to get the magic of the South Seas out of his mind, he made many visits back to the Pacific Islands. It was not until the sixties, during one of his sojourns to the Kingdom of Tonga that Pai Pai was inspired to begin his island art trading company. He saw an elderly Tongan lady selling under priced handicrafts to cruise ship passengers and decided to take the handicrafts back to Honolulu, where the Polynesian people could market their work for a decent price. This would be his way of paying back Polynesia for all it had given him.
A few years later, in 1971, the Tonga Trading Co., Ltd. was incorporated in the state of Hawaii. Only the best quality, authentic handicraft art was procured, and Pai Pai began specializing in replicating Pacific art and artifacts found in museums and major private collections, often referred to as Tiki statues. Additionally, genuine tapa cloth, Koa Canoe Paddles, standard outrigger canoe paddles, ceremonial kava bowls, woven Pandanus leaf mats and baskets are but just a few of the treasures that Pai Pai was sharing with the world.
As the years passed, the Tonga Trading Co., Ltd. prospered; decorating and providing products for homes, restaurants, hotels, cruise ships, movie theaters, hula halaus, museums, crafters and more. As the company's reputation grew strong and its roots became fortified, Pai Pai and his wife Sapeta began to slow down. This is where I, James Kahekili Foti, joined the business to help Pai Pai and Sapeta perpetuate the Tonga Trading Company code of good business ethic, quality and personality.
In 1989, fresh out of college, I was interested in Pacific
Island culture as well as international trade and travel.
As our families are very close, and I a "calabash" son
to Pai Pai and Sapeta, they shortly thereafter entrusted
me with their baby, and they settled into retirement to
fulfill their life as grandparents. Today I can proudly
say that our quality standard and business ethic has not
changed. Our product mix is varied, people's names are
different and our business system is more up to date,
but we are the same old-fashioned trading post that we
were when Pai Pai first started in 1969. Send us an e-mail,
fax or give us a call. We just might be able to find what
you are looking for, if we do not already carry it.
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Jim Foti - Owner of Tonga Trading Co.
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