Tonga Independence Day, June 4th

The island nation of Tonga in the South Pacific, the only one in the area to never have been formally colonized by a European power.

The islands have been inhabited for over 3,000 years and been in contact with it's neighbors for much of that time. The islands only being first contacted by Europeans in 1616. It is also the only nation in the region that never gave up it's ruling monarch. It gained it's independence from being a British protectorate in 1970 and joined the Commonwealth of Nations. 

While the country has had some diffuculties in the past, they are moving to a democrocy with the Crown recently giving up more power to the Prime Minister.

So happy Independence Day people of Tonga!

Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonga