Makogai Island

The village gathers to perform a dance show for us

Makogai Island and the Fijian Way...
 As soon as we pulled into the bay we were informed by another boat, Calico Jack that the Chief of the Village would be waiting at the dock to meet us and accept our “gift” of kava as soon as we came ashore.  The village also was busy preparing for an event of the children dancing and it was a fundraiser for their school.

The girls perform a story dance

We had been told when traveling the small islands of Fiji to be sure to carry several kilos of yagona root to present to the Chief of a village and ask permission to visit their island before you go diving or snorkeling.  The village gathers for a sevusevu, a welcoming ceremony where kava drink is passed around and everyone partakes. Once this is performed you are “part of the tribe” and they say, “Our home is yours to explore.”
We meet the Chief, Kamela.  And give the "gift of yagona" to him. He says thank you, but they are really busy right now…getting ready for the children’s show, can you come back later? We agree even though we're tired from sailing all day.

We are so glad we got to experience this village. The people were so friendly and sincere.  We arrived early for the dance show. The teacher, Master Peter explained that there were 28 students on the island from two villages, and that he and his wife teach all seven subjects.  It is a big job. They organized a dance show where the children will travel to other islands and compete to fund raise for their school needs.

The boys perform a hunting dance

The village gathered, men women and children on woven mats as a group with adult musicians and singers in the middle. The show was traditional dancing, the boys in grass skirts did several  “hunting” dances, while the girls, dressed in flowered prints fabrics, performed more story dance movements with their hands.  The adults drummed and belted out the lyrics while the children danced to the commands.  It was not perfect, but they performed with gusto and pride. It was adorable and special.

The whole village sings a "Welcome Song"

Cute little girl. ..I was very popular when I passed out lollipops!

At the end of the show, the whole village sang a welcome song to us visitors (there was a group of 10 or so of us, 7 boats). They then had us dance a “train” dance around to be participants!  We laughed, they laughed.  It was fun. Of course, the headman asked for a donation and we gladly opened our wallets.

The Sevusevu gathering

After the show, we were invited to sit around the “kava bowl” for the Sevusevu ceremony.   All the families from babies to grandparents, adult’s aunties and uncles.  I was a at first intimidated and not sure what to expect, but it’s really like sitting around having a few beers with your friends, very casual and friendly. They want to get to know you! I was impressed by the extended family, everyone seemed related to everyone.  There are seven families in this village and 11 in the next village and they all came together for this show. I said how nice it was to watch your grandkids grow to one man…and he said yes, it’s the “Fijian Way”…families work and live side by side most in the same village all their lives The missing age group are the middle school age kids, going to high school or university. They asked many questions about our travels on a boat, where we came from, if we had children and many questions.  We shared kava for several hours until “the feast” was ready. The teacher led us to the table set filled with local foods just for us!  Land crabs, parrot fish in coconut milk, barracuda, eggplant and stewed bananas. Delicious! We certainly didn’t expect a feast!

A delicious feast of local foods !

View of Makogai Village and the anchorage

Makogai Island has been deemed a heritage island protected and supported by the government (like a state park).  The Aquaculture research farm raises

giant clams with the hope to reintroduce the species to other islands. They count the migration of the humpback whales and grow pearl oysters and raise green turtles to reintroduce to the wild.

Government funded marine research

Giant clams are awesome!

John investigates the giant clams.  Soft to the touch like the gums in your mouth!

Looking across the channel to Ovalau Island

Walking along the village path...

Next day, we snorkeled the bay, found some really cool coral pinnacles with lots of colorful fish, saw turtles and found great shells. We hiked to the top of "heart attack" hill to the whale look out and got with great views of the reefs that encircle this island. How did the sailors of old without GPS and chart plotters make it into these anchorages?!

Our shell bounty from Makogai Island! 

VINAKA VAKALEVU!  to Makogai Island (means thank you very much) We enjoyed!