Peseti Ma'afu was already repairing his resort from damage from Cyclone Harold when the tsunami triggered by the massive eruption of Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha'apai completely wiped it out.
Liku'alofa Beach Resort lay on the western side of the main island, Tongatapu, but is now reduced to rubble, along with six other resorts on the same stretch of coast.
Parts of the buildings are scattered further inland where the monster wave dumped them a year ago, now partly hidden by vegetation which has since come back.
Drone footage supplied to Newshub shows the area after the water had receded just days after the tsunami, blackened by a layer of volcanic ash and strewn with uprooted trees and pieces of roofing iron.
Ma'afu has plans to take out a bank loan to rebuild the resort on higher land further inland and is still waiting to hear if funding will come from the government.
Listen to his full interview above.
