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

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Family Life In Ono-i-Lau, Fiji.

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

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.

Search Terms: Building, woman, man.

Families At A Picnic

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Men, women and children enjoy an outing. FAM-170

Search Terms: Trees, mats, families, temporary sun shelters.

"Sitting Around" Ono-Style. Always Something To Do

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Different projects, but men and women work together. FAM-218

Search Terms: Women, men, working.

Family Life Out In The Square

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Several generations, at work. FAM-219

Search Terms: Bure, man, women, boy, work.

Women & Children Under A Sun Shelter

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Family time. FAM-278

Search Terms: Women, babies, small children, coconut baskets, pandanus mats.

Walking Across The Square

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Families out of doors.. FAM-219

Search Terms: Trees, clearing, girls, shelter, adults, coconut trees, mat.

Families Enjoy A School Picnic By The Sea

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Families enjoy a seaside meal with their children. FAM-246

Search Terms: Women, mats, food, neighbors, ocean.

Husband And Wife

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Family time in Ono. F-19

Search Terms: Bure, mats, man, woman, working, family.

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

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

Ono Families

Family Life In Ono-i-Lau, Fiji.

Ono-i-Lau Couple

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

Families At A Picnic

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Men, women and children enjoy an outing. FAM-170

"Sitting Around" Ono-Style. Always Something To Do

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Different projects, but men and women work together. FAM-218

Family Life Out In The Square

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Several generations, at work. FAM-219

Women & Children Under A Sun Shelter

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Family time. FAM-278

Walking Across The Square

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Families out of doors.. FAM-219

Families Enjoy A School Picnic By The Sea

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Families enjoy a seaside meal with their children. FAM-246

Husband And Wife

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Family time in Ono. F-19

Family Life In Ono-i-Lau, Fiji.

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

Ono-i-Lau, FijiMen, women and children enjoy an outing. FAM-170

Ono-i-Lau, FijiDifferent projects, but men and women work together. FAM-218

Ono-i-Lau, FijiSeveral generations, at work. FAM-219

Ono-i-Lau, FijiFamily time. FAM-278

Ono-i-Lau, FijiFamilies out of doors.. FAM-219

Ono-i-Lau, FijiFamilies enjoy a seaside meal with their children. FAM-246

Ono-i-Lau, FijiFamily time in Ono. F-19

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

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Men, women and children enjoy an outing. FAM-170

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Different projects, but men and women work together. FAM-218

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Several generations, at work. FAM-219

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Family time. FAM-278

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Families out of doors.. FAM-219

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Families enjoy a seaside meal with their children. FAM-246

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Family time in Ono. F-19