 Severe Tropical Cyclone Hina in March 1997 was the worst tropical cyclone to affect the South Pacific island nation of Tonga since Cyclone Isaac in 1982 . The system was first noted within the monsoon trough on March 11 , 1997 , as a weak shallow depression within the vicinity of Rotuma . Over the next two days , the depression remained near Rotuma , and was upgraded to a tropical cyclone on March 13 . As the system tracked westward , it passed through the Cook Islands on March 14 , and then passed north of Niue on March 15 . The cyclone then turned to the south and began to accelerate to the