One of the things Pacific Islanders miss most when they migrate overseas is spending time with other Pacific Islanders. But around Australia, there are groups organising themselves to rekindle the Pacific way and promote goodwill among their people. Here, in Australia's capital, Canberra, the local Tongan community gathers every week for an evening around the kava bowl, to share the Pacific's famous drink.

Clement Paligaru: It's a quiet chilly evening in Canberra. But it won't be cold for too long in this community hall.

Reverend Nau Taitusi 'Ahosivi, kava club chaplain: Normally you just come in. Some of the boys are already here. You mix the kava, you just come any time you wish, you know when you're ready to come.

Fuesia Tupou, kava club president: It's a kava club. Kava is important for us - to our people, to our culture, to our tradition.

Clement Paligaru: The kava club is based on the traditional Tongan concept of Fofo'aga,

Reverend Nau Taitusi 'Ahosivi: Fofo'aga is a Tongan man's get together, to drink kava. That's the main thing, we just get together, that's our interest, we are common in that interest.

Clement Paligaru: In Canberra, the Fofo'aga gathering is much smaller than those in Tonga, where hundreds of people attend the kava clubs. But it still plays an important role here.

Isaiah Taumoepeau, kava club member: There is that view of being felt (sic )like you're part of the culture, part of the Tongan community.

Reverend Nau Taitusi 'Ahosivi: For me as a minister, it's something that I get up here, mix with the boys, laugh, enjoy the night.

Clement Paligaru: In Tonga and here in Canberra, the Fofo'aga is about more than just revelry.

Reverend Nau Taitusi 'Ahosivi: We try to stay close to the traditional Fofo'aga. We use the occasion to help others, to contribute and provide for the community.

Clement Paligaru: This includes raising funds for churches, youth groups, new migrants and visitors from the Pacific.

Reverend Nau Taitusi 'Ahosivi: Because visitors come, they mostly come to us, and we provide finance, food, shelter, all these things. So if we don't provide that, they just come and go and they just feel there's no Tongan around in Canberra.

Fuesia Tupou: I'd like to remind the boys that tomorrow is the donation for 'Unaloto.

Clement Paligaru: 'Una's come from Fiji where she's studying.

'Unaloto Pahulu, visiting student: Because they are helping students, like me as a student, come over here and visit. They'll do a little bit of fundraising to help me out when I go back.

Clement Paligaru: 'Unaloto is the only woman here.

Reverend Nau Taitusi 'Ahosivi: The club - it's mainly for the boys. Only a young girl's serving the kava. And 'Unaloto understands that, she feels comfortable with that.

'Unaloto Pahulu: What I have been doing is traditionally what Tongan ladies do is to serve the kava for the male, during the kava ceremony, so I am doing it tonight for the Fofo'aga in Canberra.

Clement Paligaru: Some Tongan women who live in Canberra have their reservations about Fofo'anga.

Luti Laipato, Canberra Tongan Association: I think for the married people, they should have....don't overdo it. It's nice to go over there and have conversation with others and tell story. But there is a limit. Don't stay too long, because there are families to look after.

Reverend Nau Taitusi 'Ahosivi: Some of the women have their concerns. But I encourage the boys, that their responsibility at home.is the first priority. Because if they didn't do it properly, at home, the blame will come back to us.

Clement Paligaru: And that's the last thing the elders would want, because Fofo'aga is all about staying together.

Fuesia Tupou: If we don't drink kava in the weekend, our culture and our tradition will be dying. Our people would go down to the pub and start drinking alcohol.

Isaiah Taumoepeau: It's not like your typical going to the pub and singing out there. It's more or less everyone who sings - if you know the song, you'll be singing to it and it just brings out unity.

Rev Nau Taitusi 'Ahosivi: I always say to the boys if there's no Fofoa'aga here, there's no Tonga here.