Reasons for and Impacts of Kava Use by Tongan Men in Kava Clubs in Auckland and Tonga

Malakai Ofanoa; Stephen Buetow; Samuela Ofanoa; Peter Huggard; Janine Paynter; Vili Nosa

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ss.20200902.13

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Reasons for and Impacts of Kava Use by Tongan Men in Kava Clubs in Auckland and Tonga

Malakai Ofanoa, Stephen Buetow, Samuela Ofanoa, Peter Huggard, Janine Paynter, Vili Nosa

Published in Social Sciences (Volume 9, Issue 2)

Received: 3 July 2019 Accepted: 9 October 2019 Published: 13 April 2020

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Abstract

Kava drinking in kava clubs has become an intrinsic part of Tongan Pasifika culture. Perceived effects and reasons for kava consumption are not fully understood. This study explored these issues using the culturally safe, Pasifika qualitative research approaches of Kakala and Talanga. Group interviews were held with a convenience sample of 104 Tongan men across 10 kava clubs in Tonga and New Zealand. A general inductive approach was used to analyse the interviews. Participants in both countries reported that kava use is socially sanctioned and easily accessible. Kava clubs provide an opportunity to learn about Tongan culture, socialise and are a safe way to relieve stress and boredom. However, kava consumption could reduce members’ productivity, contribute to ill-health and increase stress on family relationships. It is vital that kava use amongst Tongans is addressed in a way that deals with the negative impacts but protects its benefits. There is an opportunity to educate men about the health effects of kava. To enact this opportunity and solve this widespread issue, partnership between kava clubs, the church and the Tongan community is needed. A multi-agency engagement with kava club members and Tongan society may therefore be the best approach to minimize risks and optimize benefits of kava use.

Published in	Social Sciences (Volume 9, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.ss.20200902.13
Page(s)	56-60
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Famili, Faikava, Tasilisili, Kalapu Kava Tonga, Kakala, Kava, Kavaholic, Loulou, Talanga, Tou’a

References

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[17]	Fehoko E. Pukepuke fonua: An exploratory study on the faikava as an identity marker for New Zealand-born Tongan males in Auckland, New Zealand. Auckland, New Zealand: Social Sciences, Auckland University of Technology; 2014.
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[20]	Maneze D, Speizer A, Dalton N, Dennis S. A descriptive study of kava use among Tongan men in Macarthur, Sydney South West. Australian and New Zealand journal of public health. 2008; 32 (4): 314-316.
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APA Style

Malakai Ofanoa, Stephen Buetow, Samuela Ofanoa, Peter Huggard, Janine Paynter, et al. (2020). Reasons for and Impacts of Kava Use by Tongan Men in Kava Clubs in Auckland and Tonga. Social Sciences, 9(2), 56-60. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20200902.13

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ACS Style

Malakai Ofanoa; Stephen Buetow; Samuela Ofanoa; Peter Huggard; Janine Paynter, et al. Reasons for and Impacts of Kava Use by Tongan Men in Kava Clubs in Auckland and Tonga. Soc. Sci. 2020, 9(2), 56-60. doi: 10.11648/j.ss.20200902.13

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AMA Style

Malakai Ofanoa, Stephen Buetow, Samuela Ofanoa, Peter Huggard, Janine Paynter, et al. Reasons for and Impacts of Kava Use by Tongan Men in Kava Clubs in Auckland and Tonga. Soc Sci. 2020;9(2):56-60. doi: 10.11648/j.ss.20200902.13

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@article{10.11648/j.ss.20200902.13,
  author = {Malakai Ofanoa and Stephen Buetow and Samuela Ofanoa and Peter Huggard and Janine Paynter and Vili Nosa},
  title = {Reasons for and Impacts of Kava Use by Tongan Men in Kava Clubs in Auckland and Tonga},
  journal = {Social Sciences},
  volume = {9},
  number = {2},
  pages = {56-60},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ss.20200902.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20200902.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ss.20200902.13},
  abstract = {Kava drinking in kava clubs has become an intrinsic part of Tongan Pasifika culture. Perceived effects and reasons for kava consumption are not fully understood. This study explored these issues using the culturally safe, Pasifika qualitative research approaches of Kakala and Talanga. Group interviews were held with a convenience sample of 104 Tongan men across 10 kava clubs in Tonga and New Zealand. A general inductive approach was used to analyse the interviews. Participants in both countries reported that kava use is socially sanctioned and easily accessible. Kava clubs provide an opportunity to learn about Tongan culture, socialise and are a safe way to relieve stress and boredom. However, kava consumption could reduce members’ productivity, contribute to ill-health and increase stress on family relationships. It is vital that kava use amongst Tongans is addressed in a way that deals with the negative impacts but protects its benefits. There is an opportunity to educate men about the health effects of kava. To enact this opportunity and solve this widespread issue, partnership between kava clubs, the church and the Tongan community is needed. A multi-agency engagement with kava club members and Tongan society may therefore be the best approach to minimize risks and optimize benefits of kava use.},
 year = {2020}
}

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TY - JOUR
T1 - Reasons for and Impacts of Kava Use by Tongan Men in Kava Clubs in Auckland and Tonga
AU - Malakai Ofanoa
AU - Stephen Buetow
AU - Samuela Ofanoa
AU - Peter Huggard
AU - Janine Paynter
AU - Vili Nosa
Y1 - 2020/04/13
PY - 2020
N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20200902.13
DO - 10.11648/j.ss.20200902.13
T2 - Social Sciences
JF - Social Sciences
JO - Social Sciences
SP - 56
EP - 60
PB - Science Publishing Group
SN - 2326-988X
UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20200902.13
AB - Kava drinking in kava clubs has become an intrinsic part of Tongan Pasifika culture. Perceived effects and reasons for kava consumption are not fully understood. This study explored these issues using the culturally safe, Pasifika qualitative research approaches of Kakala and Talanga. Group interviews were held with a convenience sample of 104 Tongan men across 10 kava clubs in Tonga and New Zealand. A general inductive approach was used to analyse the interviews. Participants in both countries reported that kava use is socially sanctioned and easily accessible. Kava clubs provide an opportunity to learn about Tongan culture, socialise and are a safe way to relieve stress and boredom. However, kava consumption could reduce members’ productivity, contribute to ill-health and increase stress on family relationships. It is vital that kava use amongst Tongans is addressed in a way that deals with the negative impacts but protects its benefits. There is an opportunity to educate men about the health effects of kava. To enact this opportunity and solve this widespread issue, partnership between kava clubs, the church and the Tongan community is needed. A multi-agency engagement with kava club members and Tongan society may therefore be the best approach to minimize risks and optimize benefits of kava use.
VL - 9
IS - 2
ER -

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Author Information

Malakai Ofanoa

Department of Pacific Health, School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Stephen Buetow

Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Samuela Ofanoa

Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Peter Huggard

Department of Social and Community Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Janine Paynter

Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Vili Nosa

Department of Pacific Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

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APA Style

Malakai Ofanoa, Stephen Buetow, Samuela Ofanoa, Peter Huggard, Janine Paynter, et al. (2020). Reasons for and Impacts of Kava Use by Tongan Men in Kava Clubs in Auckland and Tonga. Social Sciences, 9(2), 56-60. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20200902.13

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ACS Style

Malakai Ofanoa; Stephen Buetow; Samuela Ofanoa; Peter Huggard; Janine Paynter, et al. Reasons for and Impacts of Kava Use by Tongan Men in Kava Clubs in Auckland and Tonga. Soc. Sci. 2020, 9(2), 56-60. doi: 10.11648/j.ss.20200902.13

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AMA Style

Malakai Ofanoa, Stephen Buetow, Samuela Ofanoa, Peter Huggard, Janine Paynter, et al. Reasons for and Impacts of Kava Use by Tongan Men in Kava Clubs in Auckland and Tonga. Soc Sci. 2020;9(2):56-60. doi: 10.11648/j.ss.20200902.13

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@article{10.11648/j.ss.20200902.13,
  author = {Malakai Ofanoa and Stephen Buetow and Samuela Ofanoa and Peter Huggard and Janine Paynter and Vili Nosa},
  title = {Reasons for and Impacts of Kava Use by Tongan Men in Kava Clubs in Auckland and Tonga},
  journal = {Social Sciences},
  volume = {9},
  number = {2},
  pages = {56-60},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ss.20200902.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20200902.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ss.20200902.13},
  abstract = {Kava drinking in kava clubs has become an intrinsic part of Tongan Pasifika culture. Perceived effects and reasons for kava consumption are not fully understood. This study explored these issues using the culturally safe, Pasifika qualitative research approaches of Kakala and Talanga. Group interviews were held with a convenience sample of 104 Tongan men across 10 kava clubs in Tonga and New Zealand. A general inductive approach was used to analyse the interviews. Participants in both countries reported that kava use is socially sanctioned and easily accessible. Kava clubs provide an opportunity to learn about Tongan culture, socialise and are a safe way to relieve stress and boredom. However, kava consumption could reduce members’ productivity, contribute to ill-health and increase stress on family relationships. It is vital that kava use amongst Tongans is addressed in a way that deals with the negative impacts but protects its benefits. There is an opportunity to educate men about the health effects of kava. To enact this opportunity and solve this widespread issue, partnership between kava clubs, the church and the Tongan community is needed. A multi-agency engagement with kava club members and Tongan society may therefore be the best approach to minimize risks and optimize benefits of kava use.},
 year = {2020}
}

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