Fatafehi Fakafanua


Fatafehi Fakafānua, known before ascending to his title as Fatafehi Kinikinilau Lolomana‘ia Fakafānua, is a Tongan politician, Lord of the Realm and former Speaker of the Tongan Legislative Assembly. He is the 8th Fakafānua.

Biography

He is the son of late Kinikinilau Tūtoatasi, 7th Lord Fakafānua and estate holder of Ma'ufanga, and Princess Sinaitakala 'Ofeina-'e-he-Langi Fakafānua. She has a brother, Fakaola mei Langi ʻItafuaʻatonga Tūtoatasi Fakafānua and a sister, the Crown Princess of Tonga, Sinaitakala Tu'imatamoana 'i Fanakavakilangi Fakafānua.
Through his mother, he is a member of the Tongan royal family and, of her own right, in line to the country's throne.
He was bestowed with the title Fakafānua, one of the thirty-three hereditary titles of the Tongan nobility, on 24 April 2006. The title is attached to the estates of Ma'ufanga, Nga'akau and Faleloa, and enables its holder to be elected to the Legislative Assembly as a Representative of the Nobility. During the 2008 by-election he was elected as a representative for Ha'apai, the youngest member ever of the Tongan Parliament. He was re-elected in the November 2010 general election.
On 19 July 2012 he was elected Speaker of the Tongan Legislative Assembly following Lord Lasike's removal from office. He was Tonga's youngest ever Speaker.
On 1 August 2008, King George Tupou V appointed Fakafānua Commander of the Order of Queen Sālote Tupou III.

Personal life

On 15 October 2014 he married Krystal Fane Kite, daughter of Tonga's former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, the late Sione Kite.

Honours

;National honours