Daily Life In Ono-i-Lau, Fiji 50 Years Ago

The Littlest Of Children.

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
A calm evening with tea. M-81

Photo of Noa Yavala.

Copyright © 1970-2019, Northcountry Communications, Inc. These photos were taken on Ono-i-Lau by LInda Weld. All rights reserved. Photos & stories cannot be used without written permission. Contact Linda by email.

Two Schoolgirls Carrying Coconut Tapers Home

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Girls carrying coconut tapers. BG-21

At Home In Ono

A Look At Ono-i-Lau Life.

Animals Of Ono

Ono-i-Lau's Domesticated Animals.

Pony Tied To A Tree

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Small horse in an Ono-i-Lau yard, 1970's. A-60

School In Ono-i-Lau

That Other Way Of "Learning"… School.

Two Children In A Bure Kitchen

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Children in a kitchen. BG-18

Typical Ono Bure In The 1970's

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Bure with wooden walls and thatched roof. H-27

Copyright © 1970-2019, Northcountry Communications, Inc. These photos were taken on Ono-i-Lau by LInda Weld. All rights reserved. Photos & stories cannot be used without written permission. Contact Linda by email.

Staying Warm By The Fire

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Coconut fire. BG-35

Photograph of Netani Jiko.

Copyright © 1970-2019, Northcountry Communications, Inc. These photos were taken on Ono-i-Lau by LInda Weld. All rights reserved. Photos & stories cannot be used without written permission. Contact Linda by email.

Mother With Child

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Young child watches mother working on a mat. W-40

Young Child In Ono-i-Lau

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Surprised Child. SC-30

School Building Through The Trees

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Schoolyard in Ono. S-18

Men Of Ono

The Men Of Ono-i-Lau.

Preparing Food In Ono-i-Lau

Food Of The Tropics.

Ono's Young People. Boys & Girls

Boys & Girls From Ono-i-Lau, Fiji.

Young People: Part Two.

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Teaching the children: Man with young boys, working outdoors.

(Right, adult): Mesui Tawareguci VL-73

Search Terms: Buildings, harvest, tools, boys man, clearing.

Paths of Ono: Part Two

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Bringing back palm fronds, 1970's

Pork For A Feast

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Coconut frond basket with feast food in Ono. PF-10

Young Girl From Ono-i-Lau

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
A young girl in a bure with masi behind her. G-81

Wedding In Ono

An Ono Wedding.

Village Life In Ono-i-Lau

Everyday Life 50 Years Ago.

Takias In Ono

Classic Outrigger Canoes Of Fiji.

Paths Of Ono

Trails Of The Islands.

South Pacific Ocean

Ocean, Giver Of Life.

Meke In Ono-i-Lau

Dances Of The South Pacific.

Tapa Cloth (Masi) Of Ono

Lovely, Historic Masi.

Making Mats In Ono

Industrious, Talented Women Of Ono-i-Lau.

Independence Day On Ono-i-Lau

Ono Celebrates Fiji's Independence.

Ono Families

Family Life In Ono-i-Lau, Fiji.

Kitchens Of Ono-i-Lau

The Kitchen Is The Heart Of The Home.

Building A Bure In Ono

How To Build A Traditional Lau Bure.

Birds of Ono-i-Lau

Rare Birds On Outer Islands.

Fishing In Ono-i-Lau

Different Ways Of Catching Fish Along The Shore.

Ono's Women

The Women Of Ono-i-Lau.

Traditional Takia Outrigger Canoe In Ono-i-Lau, Fiji

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Man on outrigger (takia) with pandanus mat sail and stone anchor. 1970's

Photo of Josefa Matawalu.

Women Fishing Along The Shore

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Women and girls catching fish in the shallows with nets. F-7

Search Terms: Women, shallow water, nets, carrying baskets.

Takia Sailing Through Lagoon

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
An outrigger canoe with a pandanus mat sail, Ono-i-Lau, early 1970's. TAK-10

Making Masi In Ono

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Applying natural inks to a piece of tapa cloth (masi). MAS-124

Roof Of A Bure With Masi

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Masi decorating the beams of an Ono home. MAS-143

Portrait Of A Beautiful Woman

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Mother with three children. W-21

Detail Of A Piece Of Ono Masi

Coming Down The Trail

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Young man carries a heavy load from the gardens. P-12

Ono-i-Lau Couple

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Man and wife on the island of Ono, 1970's Ana Fehoko and husband Taudua.

Search Terms: Building, woman, man.

Group Of Women Making Mats In Ono

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Women making mats outdoors. W-258

Students Pose For A Picture

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Class at Onolevu District School. SCH-312

Girls In Picture (left to right):

Row #1 Mere, Taina. Row #2 Rai, Ema, Sera. Row #3 Kini, Silipa

A Day When You're Fishing Beats A Day At School

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Children rush to help with the fishing. FIS-302

Photo, Front: Taina Finau Yalikanace.

Search Terms: Boy, girl, water, Fiji.

Knocking Fruit Out Of A Tree With A Stick

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Young boy in Ono gathers fruit. BG-168

Search Terms: House, tree, boy stick, food, Fiji Islands.

Ono Kids View An Aeroplane For First Time

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Schoolchildren erupt with laughter as they see their very first aeroplane during a Fiji Independence Day fly-by. C-11

Women: Part Two

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Portrait of a woman, resting.. W-258

Background

Ono-i-Lau is, by far, the remotest community in Fiji. There are six tiny islands within the reef at Ono-i-Lau. On Onolevu, the largest island, there are three villages: Nukuni, Lovoni and Matokana. There's a fourth village, Doi, on another island. These photos were all taken on Onolevu.

From 1970 to 1972, Ono was reached by either copra boat or a larger boat, the Uluilakeba. Boats came very rarely, every few months, bringing mail and goods for the store, and taking back copra and other items, along with passengers. Tragically, the Uluilakeba sank in a storm, with Ono people on board, in December, 1973. The ship went down only a year after the last of these photographs was taken.

Although sugar, salt, tea, and other basic items entered the island through the store, much of what people ate came from the island itself: Shellfish, fish, octopus, land crabs, bananas, leafy vegetables, coconut, root crops, breadfruit… and, during special times, pork, chicken and beef.

In the early 1970's, copra was the cash crop. Many residents were Methodists, and attended the Methodist church. Onolevu District School, which ended in Class 8, had a large number of students. In October, 1970, Fiji gained independence from Great Britain.

Everyone in Ono walked everywhere; there were no vehicles. Sometimes older boys rode the family horses. All boats were classic takias, or outrigger canoes, in the Fijian tradition.

Fiji's indigenous people come from two different roots. Western Fiji is Melanesian. The islands in the eastern, or Lau group, are Polynesian. In some ways, Ono is almost Tongan. Its art, the physical appearance of its people, and even the language all tend toward the Polynesian.

For example, the Fijian "v" was not used in Ono. It was replaced by the very Polynesian "p." In Western Fiji, that most basic of foods, the pig, is known as "vuaka." But, in Ono, a pig is a "puaka."

About These Photos

When we went to Ono 50 years ago, we were very young and just married. The people of Onolevu taught us many things. We hope this portrait of local life reveals the warmth, capabilities, dignity and confidence that we saw in the people of Ono. We think these photos of everyday life show the lessons we learned:

1. Working together is important.

2. Division of labour gets the job done.

3. Make time for yourself, your family, and your community.

4. Men, women and children all have equal value.

5. Respect tradition.

Linda & Jeremy Weld

Peace Corps Volunteers, Fiji IV

Onolevu District School

Sitiveni Gaunavinaka, Headmaster

The Littlest Of Children.

Ono-i-Lau, FijiA calm evening with tea. M-81

Photo of Noa Yavala.

Ono-i-Lau, FijiGirls carrying coconut tapers. BG-21

A Look At Ono-i-Lau Life.

Ono-i-Lau's Domesticated Animals.

Ono-i-Lau, FijiSmall horse in an Ono-i-Lau yard, 1970's. A-60

That Other Way Of "Learning"… School.

Ono-i-Lau, FijiChildren in a kitchen. BG-18

Ono-i-Lau, FijiBure with wooden walls and thatched roof. H-27

Copyright © 1970-2019, Northcountry Communications, Inc. These photos were taken on Ono-i-Lau by LInda Weld. All rights reserved. Photos & stories cannot be used without written permission. Contact Linda by email.

Ono-i-Lau, FijiCoconut fire. BG-35

Photograph of Netani Jiko.

Copyright © 1970-2019, Northcountry Communications, Inc. These photos were taken on Ono-i-Lau by LInda Weld. All rights reserved. Photos & stories cannot be used without written permission. Contact Linda by email.

Ono-i-Lau, FijiYoung child watches mother working on a mat. W-40

Ono-i-Lau, FijiSurprised Child. SC-30

Ono-i-Lau, FijiSchoolyard in Ono. S-18

The Men Of Ono-i-Lau.

Food Of The Tropics.

Boys & Girls From Ono-i-Lau, Fiji.

Ono-i-Lau, FijiTeaching the children: Man with young boys, working outdoors.

(Right, adult): Mesui Tawareguci VL-73

Ono-i-Lau, FijiBringing back palm fronds, 1970's

Ono-i-Lau, FijiCoconut frond basket with feast food in Ono. PF-10

Ono-i-Lau, FijiA young girl in a bure with masi behind her. G-81

An Ono Wedding.

Everyday Life 50 Years Ago.

Classic Outrigger Canoes Of Fiji.

Trails Of The Islands.

Ocean, Giver Of Life.

Dances Of The South Pacific.

Lovely, Historic Masi.

Industrious, Talented Women Of Ono-i-Lau.

Ono Celebrates Fiji's Independence.

Family Life In Ono-i-Lau, Fiji.

The Kitchen Is The Heart Of The Home.

How To Build A Traditional Lau Bure.

Rare Birds On Outer Islands.

Different Ways Of Catching Fish Along The Shore.

The Women Of Ono-i-Lau.

Ono-i-Lau, FijiMan on outrigger (takia) with pandanus mat sail and stone anchor. 1970's

Photo of Josefa Matawalu.

Ono-i-Lau, FijiWomen and girls catching fish in the shallows with nets. F-7

Ono-i-Lau, FijiAn outrigger canoe with a pandanus mat sail, Ono-i-Lau, early 1970's. TAK-10

Ono-i-Lau, FijiApplying natural inks to a piece of tapa cloth (masi). MAS-124

Ono-i-Lau, FijiMasi decorating the beams of an Ono home. MAS-143

Ono-i-Lau, FijiMother with three children. W-21

Ono-i-Lau, FijiYoung man carries a heavy load from the gardens. P-12

Ono-i-Lau, FijiMan and wife on the island of Ono, 1970's Ana Fehoko and husband Taudua.

Ono-i-Lau, FijiWomen making mats outdoors. W-258

Ono-i-Lau, FijiClass at Onolevu District School. SCH-312

Ono-i-Lau, FijiChildren rush to help with the fishing. FIS-302

Photo, Front: Taina Finau Yalikanace.

Ono-i-Lau, FijiYoung boy in Ono gathers fruit. BG-168

Ono-i-Lau, FijiSchoolchildren erupt with laughter as they see their very first aeroplane during a Fiji Independence Day fly-by. C-11

Ono-i-Lau, FijiPortrait of a woman, resting.. W-258

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
A calm evening with tea. M-81

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Girls carrying coconut tapers. BG-21

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Small horse in an Ono-i-Lau yard, 1970's. A-60

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Children in a kitchen. BG-18

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Bure with wooden walls and thatched roof. H-27

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Coconut fire. BG-35

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Young child watches mother working on a mat. W-40

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Surprised Child. SC-30

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Schoolyard in Ono. S-18

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Teaching the children: Man with young boys, working outdoors.

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Bringing back palm fronds, 1970's

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Coconut frond basket with feast food in Ono. PF-10

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
A young girl in a bure with masi behind her. G-81

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Man on outrigger (takia) with pandanus mat sail and stone anchor. 1970's

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Women and girls catching fish in the shallows with nets. F-7

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
An outrigger canoe with a pandanus mat sail, Ono-i-Lau, early 1970's. TAK-10

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Applying natural inks to a piece of tapa cloth (masi). MAS-124

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Masi decorating the beams of an Ono home. MAS-143

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Mother with three children. W-21

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Young man carries a heavy load from the gardens. P-12

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Man and wife on the island of Ono, 1970's Ana Fehoko and husband Taudua.

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Women making mats outdoors. W-258

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Class at Onolevu District School. SCH-312

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Children rush to help with the fishing. FIS-302

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Young boy in Ono gathers fruit. BG-168

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Schoolchildren erupt with laughter as they see their very first aeroplane during a Fiji Independence Day fly-by. C-11

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Portrait of a woman, resting.. W-258