Council hears proposal to explore sister-city ties with Tonga

Sister Cities International and East Palo Alto community leaders presented a proposal asking the council to authorize staff to explore forming a sister-city relationship with a city in Tonga.

Carlo Kapua, introduced to the council as representing Sister Cities International, described the organization as “the oldest and largest, citizen diplomacy network.” He outlined the national initiative to build partnerships with Pacific Island communities and said East Palo Alto’s large Tongan population makes it a natural match. Tonga Victoria, a lifelong East Palo Alto resident, described recent local relief work after the Hunga Tonga eruption and asked the council to allow a local committee to pursue a fact-finding mission and community outreach.

Councilmembers voiced broad support for pursuing the idea while flagging practical questions. One member asked staff to identify specific Tongan municipalities that could be matched with East Palo Alto and to clarify potential travel or city-funded costs. Another suggested the committee should be community-led and raise private funds for travel and programming rather than relying on the city budget.

The council did not take final action but directed staff to return with a formal item and next steps that would include community engagement and a more detailed budgetary outline.