Gift giving in Tonga is usually done with practical, respectful items such as food,
kava, or small household goods, and gifts are often presented with both hands or through a host rather than opened immediately in front of everyone. For formal visits, weddings, funerals, and chiefly occasions, the most valued offerings are often mats,
tapa cloth, or kava, which fit the strong tradition of reciprocity and respect in Tongan social life.