Twelve-year-old Anessi Ahoafi lives on one of the beautiful South Pacific tropical islands in the Kingdom of Tonga. She is learning to make the traditional tapa cloth Tonga is known for. Anessi learns from her mother and aunt, as they did from their mothers and aunts before them, to make tapa cloth from the bark of the mulberry tree. Her cousin’s wedding is approaching, and Anessi is anxious to create a beautiful piece for her as a wedding gift.