Royal Order of Pouono explained

Royal Order of Pouono Ko e Fakalangilangi ‘o Pouono
Awarded By:	King of Tonga
Type:	Order of Merit
For:	The Monarch, Consort, and children of the Monarch of Tonga and also foreign Heads of State
Head Title:	Sovereign
Head:	King Tupou VI
House:	House of Tupou
Grades:	Knight Grand Cross (KGCP)
Established:	1893
Status:	Inactive since ca. 2008
Higher:	None
Lower:	Order of King George Tupou I

The Royal Order of Pouono is the highest order of chivalry in the Kingdom of Tonga.

History

The Order was established in 1893 by King George Tupou II. The Order of Pouono is currently considered as inactive, as King George Tupou V discontinued the Order in 2008.^{[1] [2]}

Class

The Order consists of a single class: Knight Grand Cross.^[3] Its post-nominal letters are K.G.C.P.

Insignia

The insignia consists of a collar, badge, breast star and riband. The collar is reserved for the King and foreign Heads of State only.

• The badge is a white enamel gold edged Maltese cross. Its gold central disc displays the "Pouono fale" (a six posted house) also in gold, and is surrounded by a red enamel ring bearing the national motto "KO E ‘OTUA TONGA KO HOKU TOFI’A" (sometimes written as "KOE OTUA MOTOGA KO HOKU TOFIA" due to a manufacturing error) in gold capital letters, in the base is a spray of gold laurel. The badge is suspended via a gold Tongan crown from the collar and ribbon.
• The star is gold 7-armed cross, with each arm having seven finger-rays (the first & seventh being the same length, the second & sixth being smaller than the first, the third & fifth being smaller than the others, and the fourth being the smallest ray). Its white enamel central disc shows a gold "Pouono beach cottage", which is surrounded by a red enamel ring bearing the national motto in gold capital letters and a spray of gold laurel in the base.
• The collar of the Order is a double gold chain set with a white enamel 6-pointed gold edged star (centre-piece), with on either side moving upwards; a white enamel dove in flight, three crossed swords in gold, a 6-pointed white enamel & gold edged star. From it hangs the badge of the Order.
• The riband is a 102mm-wide sash with a moiré pattern and alternating scarlet, light cream, scarlet, light cream and scarlet colored stripes (proportions 6/20/50/20/6 mm).^[3] The badge is worn suspended from the riband at the left hip.

Notes and References

1. https://www.medals.org.uk/tonga/tonga002.htm Kingdom of Tonga: Royal Order of Pouono
2. https://gmic.co.uk/topic/29971-new-order-for-tonga/ New Order for Tonga
3. http://www.jeanpaulleblanc.com/TONGA_Awards_28_Aug_08.doc John Duncan McMeekin's summary