PHOTO CREDIT98 TRAVEL + LEISURE / JANUARY 2017
did mostly by themselves, the Newtons
opened in 2013 with just a restaurant
and a tree house. Since then they have
added four bungalows and a yoga porch
overlooking the water. “The island
already had its own vibe,” Ben said. “We
just had to fi gure out what to do with it.”
Though Fetoko Island is only about
70 yards in diametre, the Newtons
found space for some big ideas. Ben’s
swooping design for the open-air
restaurant was inspired by, among
other things, manta rays and fractal
geometry. Upon arrival by boat, guests
are greeted by the couple’s two dogs,
Higgs and Boson, named after the Higgs
boson, a theoretical subatomic particle.
All electricity is supplied by solar panels
and all water by the clouds. The toilets
operate on a composting system,
and plans are afoot for an aquaponics
garden, which will allow them to grow
more of the resort’s (excellent) food on
site. There’s talk of keeping chickens
and dairy cows on a nearby island,
since there isn’t space on Fetoko.
These green measures feel
especially urgent in Tonga. Like other
Pacifi c island nations, the kingdom is
especially vulnerable to climate
change, as rising sea levels and
increasing water temperatures have
begun to cause inundation of
low-lying coasts, reef degradation,
and saltwater infi ltration of soil and
freshwater reservoirs. “Be the change
and whatnot,” Ben said. “We’re not
real focused on it as a business.
It’s been more about the project,
building it and enjoying it as we do it.”
One of Ben’s businesses back in
San Francisco involved arranging
personalised experiences designed to
help people confront and conquer
their fears—for example, skydiving
for those afraid of heights. “I got
addicted to it,” he said, “but I realised
I hadn’t faced my own biggest fear.”
Which was? “Running out of money.”
To that end, he and Lisa traded
the rat race for the boat. “We sailed
through the Golden Gate and turned
left,” he said. Three years later, they
arrived in Tonga. Money ran out
a few times while they were building
Mandala, but the rewards have been
rich. “How do you beat the tropical
island lifestyle?” Lisa asked. As I sipped
a rum cocktail in a hammock on
Mandala’s beach at sunset, I wasn’t
sure you could.A humpback whale,
seen during an excursion
with WhaleSwim Adventures,
descends into the ocean.100 TRAVEL + LEISURE / JANUARY 2017