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

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Takias In Ono

Classic Outrigger Canoes Of Fiji.

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.

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.

Takia Sailing Through Lagoon

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

Takia By The Shore

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
At work on an outrigger. TAK-250

Detail Of The Edge Of A Takia

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Holes, drilled in outrigger for sinnet lashing.. TAK-251

Takias In The Water, Ono-i-Lau

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Two Ono takias, pulled up near shore. TAK-252

The Ribs Of A Takia Outrigger Canoe

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Inside an Ono takia. TAK-255

Takias With Lagoon & Fence

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Two distant takias in the lagoon. TAK-254

Takia On The Beach

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
South Pacific iconic watercraft, the takia. TAK-256

Through The Lagoon In A Takia

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
View from the front of an outrigger canoe. T-31

Man & Boy On A Takia In Ono-i-Lau

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Preparing the boat. T-57

Outrigger Canoe (Takia) Anchored Off Shore

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
A takia off one of the outer islands at Ono-i-Lau. T-103

Painted, Named & Ready To Take Out Into The Water

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Takias, pulled along the shore at Ono-i-Lau, with copra drying tables in the background. T-104

Coconut Rope Lashing On A Takia Outrigger

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Photo of how takias are lashed with Ono-made fibre rope (magimagi), 1970's

Takia With Coconut Drying Racks

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Red outrigger pulled up on shore beside copra drying racks. T-106

Wooden Fence In Ono

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Coconut palms, takia, tin roofed building and wooden fence. VL-107

Outrigger, Lashed With Coconut Fibre Rope

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Handmade plaited rope, made in Ono, is so durable that 50-year old lengths of the fibre are as effective today as when they were made, 1970's

Fijian Outrigger Pulled Up On Land

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Takias were moved on and off the shore by rolling them over a line of palm trunks, 1970's

Boys Gather On A Takia By The Shore

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Boys of all ages hang out on a dugout canoe, pulled up along the ocean. C-70

Takia Sail Made Of Old Pandanus Mats

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Pandanus mat boat sail, stored in a bure, with pineapples. VL-95

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

Classic Outrigger Canoes Of Fiji.

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

Photo of Josefa Matawalu.

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

Ono-i-Lau, FijiAt work on an outrigger. TAK-250

Ono-i-Lau, FijiHoles, drilled in outrigger for sinnet lashing.. TAK-251

Ono-i-Lau, FijiTwo Ono takias, pulled up near shore. TAK-252

Ono-i-Lau, FijiInside an Ono takia. TAK-255

Ono-i-Lau, FijiTwo distant takias in the lagoon. TAK-254

Ono-i-Lau, FijiSouth Pacific iconic watercraft, the takia. TAK-256

Ono-i-Lau, FijiView from the front of an outrigger canoe. T-31

Ono-i-Lau, FijiPreparing the boat. T-57

Ono-i-Lau, FijiA takia off one of the outer islands at Ono-i-Lau. T-103

Ono-i-Lau, FijiTakias, pulled along the shore at Ono-i-Lau, with copra drying tables in the background. T-104

Ono-i-Lau, FijiPhoto of how takias are lashed with Ono-made fibre rope (magimagi), 1970's

Ono-i-Lau, FijiRed outrigger pulled up on shore beside copra drying racks. T-106

Ono-i-Lau, FijiCoconut palms, takia, tin roofed building and wooden fence. VL-107

Ono-i-Lau, FijiHandmade plaited rope, made in Ono, is so durable that 50-year old lengths of the fibre are as effective today as when they were made, 1970's

Ono-i-Lau, FijiTakias were moved on and off the shore by rolling them over a line of palm trunks, 1970's

Ono-i-Lau, FijiBoys of all ages hang out on a dugout canoe, pulled up along the ocean. C-70

Ono-i-Lau, FijiPandanus mat boat sail, stored in a bure, with pineapples. VL-95