Bridging oceans through culture, respect and community

Princess Sinaitakala Tukuʻaho stands with former East Palo Alto Mayors Sharifa, Wilson, Mayor Webster Lincoln, Mayor Martha Barragan and three other event attendees. Photo by Art Lim

Traditional songs, dancing, laughter, and cultural pride filled Cooley Landing in East Palo Alto during Global Engagement Week as community members gathered to celebrate the historic Sister City partnership between the City of East Palo Alto and the Kolofoʻou District of Tonga.

The week-long celebration brought together local leaders, families, youth, Pasifika entrepreneurs, and members of the visiting Tongan delegation through cultural events, community gatherings, and educational exchanges.

The event coincided with the historic visit of Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Sinaitakala Tukuʻaho of Tonga, who traveled to East Palo Alto as part of the official partnership celebration. Throughout the week, the delegation participated in cultural receptions, school visits, business events, and meetings across the Bay Area, including visits to Meta and Amazon campuses to explore future opportunities for collaboration.

The visit marked a significant milestone in strengthening ties between the Kingdom of Tonga and the large Tongan American community that has long been part of the fabric of East Palo Alto and the greater San Mateo County region.

Held as both a cultural celebration and community gathering, the evening brought together residents, elected officials, families, and youth through music, traditional dancing, storytelling, and reflection. The gathering honored the deep roots of the Pacific Islander and Tongan community in East Palo Alto while emphasizing the importance of preserving traditions and passing them on to future generations.

It was a reminder of the values that continue to shape East Palo Alto: multicultural connection, family, resilience, and community pride.

As someone who grew up in East Palo Alto, the event carried personal meaning for me as well. Growing up in this community meant being surrounded by many cultures and traditions. It was normal to learn from African American families, Latino families, Pacific Islander families, and immigrant communities all at once.

Now, watching my own teenage son experience those same cultural connections is deeply meaningful. Seeing younger generations embrace these traditions reminds us why preserving culture matters. It creates belonging. It creates pride. It reminds young people where they come from and who helped build the communities they live in today.

East Palo Alto City Manager Melvin Gaines reflected on the strong ties between the city and the Tongan community and how those relationships have long been part of East Palo Alto’s identity.

“The ties between East Palo Alto and Tonga are—we’re a multicultural community where a good amount of our residents are from Tonga, and they’ve been essential to the fabric of what East Palo Alto is,” Gaines said.

“Growing up in this community, it’s been a community where I was able to be exposed to African American culture, Tongan culture, various different Latino cultures,” Gaines said. “And it’s important to who we are as a community.”

Gaines said formal cultural relationships strengthen understanding and create opportunities for learning.

“It strengthens things symbolically, but it also allows us to learn,” he said.

Throughout the evening, cultural dancing and performances highlighted the beauty of traditions being shared across generations. Children danced alongside adults and elders, creating a powerful reminder that culture survives when it is taught, celebrated, and passed down.

Tongan police officer Peni Likio spoke about the importance of respect within both community and culture.

“The main thing is respect, especially in California. It doesn’t matter where you’re from or what team you support. People out there respect the team,” Likio said.

“You can hang out, have a conversation, and there’s no disrespect,” he said. “At the end of the day, it comes back to respect.”

He also reflected on the importance of cultural identity and protecting traditions for future generations.

“I think it’s about honor and relationships with other people, and being part of a group. It’s that honor we’ve always had—the sense of safety,” Likio said.

San Mateo County Supervisor Lisa Gauthier emphasized the importance of visibility, representation, and preserving traditions within multicultural communities.

“This is a collaboration and a connection,” Gauthier said. “There’s an ocean between us, but we have some of the largest Pacific Islander communities here. It’s important to see somebody that looks like you. That sense of belonging really, really matters,” she said.

Gauthier also spoke about the importance of preserving traditions and honoring ancestry, especially for communities whose histories include displacement and loss of cultural connection.

“If you forget your traditions, you forget who you are. Being able to hold onto that heritage and have something that you can pass on to the next generation is priceless,” she said.

“I watch the kids dance, the grandparents. It is an amazing family that comes together,” she said. “We are learning from that connection.”

Vanessa Smith, a legislative aide who attended the event, shared similar thoughts about the importance of honoring elders and continuing intergenerational traditions.

“I think just showing respect to your elders, your parents, and continuing that respect for your ancestors is really important,” Smith said.

“We’re losing that a little bit among young people—the respect for elders and seeking wisdom,” Smith said. “I hope that continues to be passed on to future generations.”

Smith also spoke about the importance of recognizing diversity within communities and making space for all cultural identities to be represented.

“It’s important to highlight that we are not a monolith,” she said. “There are many different ethnicities and identities within the community.”

During one of the Global Engagement Week receptions, Her Royal Highness Princess Angelika Tukuʻaho was presented with both the Outstanding Service & Global Engagement Award and a California Legislature Assembly Certificate of Recognition. The awards were presented by representatives from the City of East Palo Alto and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs (CAPIAA) in recognition of her work in cultural diplomacy, international engagement, and strengthening community partnerships connected to the historic sister city relationship.

One of the featured events of the week was the Pasifika Business Mixer held at Cooley Landing, where local entrepreneurs, community members, and visiting dignitaries gathered for an evening centered on networking, cultural pride, and supporting Pasifika-owned businesses. Vendors shared information about their businesses while attendees connected through conversation and storytelling.

Members of the visiting delegation, including Her Royal Highness Princess Sinaitakala Tukuʻaho, met with vendors and learned about their businesses and community impact.

The week concluded with the signing of a historic Memorandum of Understanding by East Palo Alto Mayor Webster Lincoln and city officials from Tonga, formally establishing the first direct sister city partnership between the Kingdom of Tonga and a United States municipality.

Community leaders described the partnership as an important step toward continued cultural exchange, educational collaboration, and stronger international relationships between East Palo Alto and Tonga for future generations.

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