Tonga Tourism has reached out to American Idol winner Iam Tongi to return to his whakapapa in the Friendly Islands to a festival that has not run for three years because of Covid.
Tonga is under the frenzy of Tongi magic - Tongi, 18, won the US singing competition on Monday.
The Heilala Festival 2023 including the popular Miss Heilala Pageant returns to Nuku’alofa from June 26 to July 7, after a three-years hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
![The streets of Ōtāhuhu become a sea of red whenever Tonga plays - as seen during the Rugby League World Cup in 2017. Photo / Chris Loufte](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/OMI4Q6CEJL3W2MP56RQ4PIAE74.jpg?auth=2c2bbd0f580f8069716782adfc2607cd6cf379ee68ecc8f8ab2af6d3f9d511fb&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)
An appearance from Idol winner Tongi would ignite the island nation with scenes reminiscent of fans of Mate Ma Tonga - the country’s rugby league team and the waving of the red Tonga flags.