With the help of our research intern, the incredible women of the Waitabu Women’s Club have begun transforming plastic waste into art and ecobricks—strong building materials made from densely packed rubbish. 

Our very first ecobrick planter has successfully diverted approximately 260 grocery bags of plastic from polluting our environment, helping protect the health of our stunning marine park.

Did you know that by 2050, there could be more plastic in the ocean than fish?

This reality underscores the urgent need for effective waste management in our community and beyond.

The womens group has even begun construction on a women’s group art center for sustainability so that current and future generations can continue to have meaningful impacts on their community and the environment.

By transforming plastic waste into valuable resources we are protecting our marine ecosystem, educating our children about plastic waste, and inspiring others to take action!  

Photos and text by volunteer Layla Wall (Long Island University, USA)

The post Initiative to tackle plastic waste in Waitabu appeared first on Waitabu Marine Park.

The office has been renovated and painted and there are new contact numbers for the Park:

Contacts

You may call:

Manager

• Vodafone# 9490792
• Digicel# 7367267

Receptionist

• Vodafone# 2818815
• Digicel# 8725541

To arrange your visit to the park, and if you are staying on Taveuni Island, you will also likely be able to arrange a visit through your resort.

The post Waitabu Marine Park open for tourists in 2023! appeared first on Waitabu Marine Park.

We are trying to to help Waitabu youths who have dropped off from school to be able to believe themselves and prove that they could do well in other field, like our three older fiji reprentatives Iosefo Masikau, Jeremaia Matana and Iowane Tuifatima .

They began at this early stage to be able to move forward.

The post Waitabu Marine Park Ruggers U21 Team @e 15th Fiji Bitter Wairiki 7s Tournament 2022 appeared first on Waitabu Marine Park.

When these fish spawn, their larval stages circulate in the open ocean until settlement time, when the juvenile fish come back to the reef and seagrass beds where they will spend the rest of their lives.

This settlement event, when thousands of tiny fish arrive on the shallow inshore reefs, has a specific linkage to Waitabu’s identity and is marked with clear ritual protocols.

In November 2021 there was an exceptionally large nuga settlement event.

There is a saying in Waitabu that if everything is alright in the community, the nuqa will appear. When they do, there is a ritual called “ta nuqa” (literally, fetching nuqa) performed at the beach to catch these tiny animals.

The harvest is carried out by senior village women wearing traditional dress, the formal sulu jaba (a long dress with bright colorful designs) , spreading out a 5-foot long gillnet and driving the fish by slapping the water with short branches of “Dawa” leaves (Pometia pinnata)

Thousands of shiny silvery rabbitfish are then scooped up and dumped into buckets.

Traditionally it is important that the first basket of fish be given to the village chief, the “Tui Nasau“, after which the remainder is divided up among the families of Waitabu and the neigbouring villages.

This exceptional harvest of November 2021 is taken to signify that the communities of the area are in good order and that harmony reigns.

Previously the most memorable “ta nuqa” event to most villagers was the one in 2004.

Before then, the juvenile rabbitfish had not arrived for several years. In December 2004, however, an abundance of this tiny fish suddenly appeared in the foreshore. The ensuing harvest was so successful that today villagers still remember the scene vividly.

It was significant because it was the first time that they had appeared for many years, and was interpreted as the rightfulness of the conservation and ecotourism project, the Waitabu Marine Park, established in 1998.

More details of the 2011 event can be found on pages 220 – 226 of the PhD thesis of Hao-li Lin , click here.

The post Traditional Nuqa harvest at Waitabu signifies a peaceful and harmonised Vanua! appeared first on Waitabu Marine Park.

Vanua as Environment: Conservation, Farming, and Development in Waitabu, Fiji

Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

Defended and approved on March 16th, 2015

Thesis Summary

This dissertation examines the idea of “environment” in Waitabu, an indigenous Fijian community on Taveuni Island, and how it influences the community’s participation in contemporary development projects.

My main argument is that vanua (a Fijian concept often translated as “land” but which also encompasses people, community, and custom) is an important framework through which the community negotiates social and biological changes through time. In other words, it is an “environment” in its totality.

I also argue that contrary to common understanding, vanua is a dynamic entity shaped by historical events rather than a set of rigid customary protocols, thus creating different trajectories of engagement with development projects. Two particular cases are analyzed here:

1) the “Waitabu Marine Park” conservation and ecotourism project;

2) the grassroots cash-cropping schemes and subsistence farming in the village.

The post Thesis: Vanua as Environment: Conservation, Farming, and Development in Waitabu, Fiji appeared first on Waitabu Marine Park.

And their prayers were answered with the 27-12 win over New Zealand in the gold medal final at the Tokyo Stadium on Wednesday night.

Masi, played with a fractured finger and was in the run-on team as he contested the restarts against seasoned campaigners like Tim Mikkelson and Scott Curry.

His father, Atonio Kawakawa told SUNsports yesterday that they all cried at the sound of the final whistle.

“We were overwhelmed with joy,” Kawakawa said.

“Masi delivered his promise by bringing the Olympic gold back to our beloved Fiji despite playing with a fractured finger.

“We thank (head coach) Gareth Baber for his selection as it was spot on and the boys did a remarkable job overall.

“And for choosing Masi to be one of the players in the first line-up, we were grateful as it has also lifted his performance.”

Masi will undergo immediate surgery on his finger as soon the team return.

Kawakawa said villagers came together to the village hall to watch all the games as there was no other TV screen.

He said the village came to life with celebration after the finals.

“We said a prayer of thanksgiving before the children took to the road to celebrate by beating pots and pans or anything they could get hold of.”

The father of three said as they are waiting for Masi to return home as they plan to celebrate the win with him.

“Masi and the boys have done us proud. Now we have young boys in the village who look up to him for his hard work and dedication, which saw him represent Fiji.”

The Waitabu native, from the district of Waikeli in Taveuni, Cakaudrove, was brought up in their family farm at Delaivuna, Taveuni with his two younger siblings.

https://fijisun.com.fj/2021/07/30/masis-village-waits-for-his-return/

By Laisa Lui

30 Jul 2021 13:24

The post Masi’s Village Waitabu Taveuni Waits For His Return appeared first on Waitabu Marine Park.

His family were filmed at Waitabu Village, Fiji, being hugged by those around them as match television commentary played out in the background. 

Others in the room were heard cheering, clapping and whistling. 

Back on the Tokyo field, footage from moments after the final whistle of Fiji’s 27-12 win over the All Black Sevens showed several players, Vilimoni Botitu among them, on their knees in a line as the New Zealand players stood respectfully in the background.

The team then marked the occasion in traditional fashion, singing the hymn Eda Sa Qaqa — which features the lyrics “we have overcome”.

On Facebook last night, Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama congratulated the team.

“Vinaka, boys — that win was worth more than gold,” he wrote.

“Your love for this game, for each other, and for your country has shown again that when Fijians unite, we can achieve greatness — no matter what the world throws our way.

“Go Fiji go!!!!”

The gold is Fiji’s second-ever Olympic medal, having won gold in the men’s seven in Rio.

Rookie Team Fiji men’s rugby sevens forward Iosefo Masi played with a fractured finger in their gold medal win at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan, last night.

The was confirmed by Fiji Rugby Union chief executive officer, John O’Connor.

“Masi was injured from the first pool game against Japan,” O’Connor said.

“The team management strapped his finger according to what was advised to them by the medical people.

“Masi will now undergo immediate surgery.”

SOURCE:  1 NEWS

The post Family of Fijian sevens star overwhelmed with Olympic gold in Waitabu, Taveuni appeared first on Waitabu Marine Park.

Young national rep Iosefo Masi is from Waitabu and he also scored a try against Japan which caused more reason to celebrate for the whole village.

Masi’s family, friends and other villagers had a little march in the village with some dancing, beating of drums and singing.

His mom Aqela Nukunawa and dad Atonio Kawakawa both shared that the 22-year-old always wanted to represent Fiji in rugby when he was young.

Kawakawa says he’s not surprised that the former Tabadamu player has achieved his dream.

In an emotional video message, his dad says Masi loved rugby and before, they couldn’t watch games because they didn’t have a TV, however, today villagers watched him leaving his dream.

Iosefo Masi broke into the local 7s scene for Tabadamu at the Marist 7s last year when he scored a hat-trick in the final.

The youngster cemented his spot after an impressive performance at the Oceania 7s in Australia last month.

Akuila Cama

Senior Multimedia Sports Journalist

akuila@fbc.com.fj

@AkuilaFBCNews

https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/rugby-sevens/results-men-sfnl-000200-.htm

The post Waitabu villagers cheer on Masi at Tokyo Olympics 7s Rugby appeared first on Waitabu Marine Park.

Video by Rodrigo Moterani aboard the National Geographic Orion in Waitabu, Taveuni, Fiji.

South Pacific & French Polynesia expeditions

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The post Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic visits Waitabu appeared first on Waitabu Marine Park.

Observing and counting of Vivili (Giant clam) and Trochus.

Helen will be doing observation off the reef for the reef health.

The post Waitabu Marine Survey Day 3 appeared first on Waitabu Marine Park.