In 1965, off the coast of Tonga, a group of boys set out for what they thought would a couple days of fun. In reality, their reckless joyride turned into a nightmare that would last for over a year. Lost and alone, they were forced to find a way to survive on a deserted island by themselves — until a fishing boat happened to pass by.
Catalyst
It was a hot day in June, and six Tongan boys – Sione, Stephen, Kolo, David, Luke and Mano, boarding-school students in Tonga’s capital Nuku‘alofa — needed a change of scenery. The strict Catholic school atmosphere wasn’t suiting them.
An Idea
Though they ranged in age from 13 to 16, the boys shared a major commonality: they were bored and tired of school meals. Their solution was to go fishing, so they planned to sail to Fiji.
The Boat
However, being teens, none of them had transportation. They needed a boat. Luckily, local fisherman Taniela Uhila had a few, so — already disliking him — they snuck down to the waterfront and “borrowed” one 24-foot craft.
Packing
With a lack of seafaring experience but plenty of anxiety to get going, the boys didn’t pack carefully. They brought two sacks of bananas, some coconuts, and a gas burner — nothing more, not even a map or compass.
Setting Sail
Late in the evening, they made their getaway from Nuku‘alofa’s harbor, not telling anyone where they were going. At first things went well: no one saw them leave, and the weather was clear. However, in the wee hours of the morning, they made a huge mistake.
Sudden Danger
After dropping anchor off the coast of Tongatapu, they fell asleep, with no one awake on watch. A storm rolled in, breaking the anchor rope, and the boys awoke to a squall. The wind tore up their sail, and tossing seas snapped the rudder.
Alone At Sea
For the next week, the boat drifted aimlessly. Mano later recounted that they had no water or food, except for a few raw fish. They collected a bit of rain in coconut shells, but the water was so limited, each boy got only two sips per day.
Land Ho!
But after eight days, when the boat was beginning to fall apart, they spied their saving grace. An island jutted up over the horizon. One side was mostly sharp rocks and cliffs, not beachy or inviting, but it had a few trees and it was land.
‘Ata
The boys scrambled ashore. This was the island of ‘Ata, considered to be uninhabitable. It was once home to a thriving community, but in 1863 almost half its population had been kidnapped for slavery or killed by disease, so the remaining citizens relocated to nearby ʻEua.
New Plan
The boys didn’t know this. All they knew is that they needed ground rules. They promised not to argue on the island, because fights would likely escalate and become life-threatening. If things got heated, they separated until they calmed down, and then reconvened to apologize.
Forming A Society
The boys also created a schedule. They did everything in pairs, so that in case of danger, nobody was ever alone. They set up a garden, kitchen, and watchposts and then made a roster to assign rotating duties. Every morning and evening they sang and had group prayer.
Survival Foods
In the beginning, the group ate fish, coconuts, and any seabirds they could catch. As they explored further inland, they discovered an old volcano where the former ‘Ata civilization had been. There, they found wild taro, bananas, and chickens, descended from those kept by former inhabitants.
Accomplishments
With the gas burner, the boys lit a fire, and tended it constantly for fifteen months. They carved out fallen tree trunks to collect rainwater, built coops for the wild chickens, and fashioned a rugged gymnasium and badminton court for downtime.
Craftsmanship
To keep spirits high, Kolo made a small guitar. He salvaged steel wires from the boat, which was now in pieces, and attached them to a piece of driftwood and a coconut shell he carved with the group’s only knifeblade.
Dark Days
The musical boost was much-needed. Rain was scarce, and the boys were parched of thirst. They built a raft to escape, but it was destroyed in the powerful waves. One day, Stephen slipped and fell off a cliff, breaking his leg.
Sudden Hope
Just when the boys thought they’d be there forever, passing fisherman Peter Warner noticed a strange pattern of fires on ‘Ata. He sailed closer to check it out — and saw a human jump into the sea, swimming straight for his boat.
Rescue
The boy was Stephen, and he was followed by the other five. “We’re from Tonga, and we’ve been here 15 months,” they told Warner, who radioed the news to the mainland. The radio operator confirmed their story ecstatically; the boys had been thought dead.
The Return Feast
When they returned to Nuku‘alofa, a huge celebration was held. Doctors were stunned at the boys’ good health, particularly at Stephen’s perfectly healed leg. The fisherman Taniela Uhila was irate about the loss of his boat, but Warner purchased a new one for him to smooth things over.
Sailing Onward
Warner had a new ship commissioned and called it ‘Ata. He hired the six boys — now men — to join him as crew, and they were finally able to fulfill their desire to travel the world, fishing and seeing what lay beyond Tonga.
Happy Ending
In 2020, the story of the castaways resurfaced and reconnected the four ‘Ata survivors with Peter Warner. News of this reached Hollywood, and U.S. film studio New Regency bought the story rights, with the survivors hired as consultants
