MATANUKU ISLAND, KADAVU

Beautiful unspoiled, lush, private island _ km south of Kadavu, Fiji. Our isle is edged with long white sandy beaches, deep mangrove forests, swaying tall coconut trees, littered with exquistite seashells, and pretty sights. No roads. No motor vehicles. No power. And the proud home of Matanuku Village.

Matanuku translated into English means "face of the sand". Our island is marked by its voluptous bright green hillsides on the southside that plunge into deep blue reef breaks. Highest elevation reaches a rotond 177 feet. On the north side, the island becomes more flat with erect coconut grooves, and elongated beaches of soft sand melting into electric torquoise waters. In the emerald interior of our isle grows extensive tracts of tall native forest/jungle, grass, reeds, palms, pandanus, bushes, ferns, vines, and hardwoods. Fertile top soil works well for our root crops, and farming.

From our beaches and village, we have a wonderful view and feeling for the majestic Mt. Nabukelevu (838m) rising out of the Kadavu mainland. This abrupt mountain top is often ringed by clouds, and was used as the backdrop in the 1935 version of the movie King Kong. (You can climb it, however there is no trail so a guide from the Nabukelelevuira Village must hack a way for you.)

Our island is commonly defined by the white sandy beach that rolls out to elegant monumental volcanic rock formations. These sculptures brim with black seabirds above the azure coral reef waters...

LEGEND

Iliesa Taqanileba is the first documented man to live on Matanuku. He was a fierce much feared warrior throughout Fiji. Some refused to fight him, and would bow out of a conflict, since his brutality and reputation was so astounding. His physique and phyiscal presence was nothing but intimidating. Alledgedly, he stands at a dominating 10 feet tall. His weapon was an wicked dangerous club, aptly entitled Na-Yate-Mai, "Give Your Heart"!

A treasure chest is still buried on island with extensive collection of jewlery and precious goods he won from conquering battles. Locals have in recent times found the chest and contents, and reburied it in a secret spot. Iliese also, gained many women (predomaniantly Tongan) as prizes from his fighting confrontations, and spearfishing competitions, and took them as his wives.

The graves of his body and his club are located (separately) in the reserved area of the island, by the beach where his wedding was suppose to be held...

When he was set to wed his supreme queen, Iliesa expected the party to be ready before sunrise. However, the party planners were slow in preparing the ceremony that was to take place in the morning on the beach. Infuriated, Iliesa turned the whole wedding into stone.

The guests, the meke dancers, the dance master, the party planners, the bride, and the father of the bride, all turned into stone. The shark, and sting ray caught for the wedding dinner became stone. The lali, a wooden drum that echos and sends announcements to a village, turned to stone too.

Today, in our sacred reserved area, we see the evidence of how this tale played out on beach. Each figure of the wedding party is a beach boulder. The Mata-Meke (the dancers) and the Sara-Meke (the guests) are frozen in time as boulders. And our wishing stone, Vatu-Ni-Diva, represents the stack of gifts that were presented to Iliesa for his big wedding day. Also, a huge spiritual offering comprised of whale tooth, tapa, and other Fijian emblems of riches, power, and beauty are set in stone. We do not touch this ominous section of stones, for a tidal wave will occur if anyone touches, steps, or sits on them.

We only take the fruit, and do not cut anything from the sacred reserved area of the island.

CLASSIC POPULAR ISLAND TUNES

We love to sing melodies, and our old time songs trace back knowledge about our landscape, and retain the tragic, love, inspirational, and historical stories of our area. See more about Vuni de B>>

DIVERSE MARINE ECOSYSTEM

We've been long, and best known by locals because of our abundance of off shore marine life and seafood. Great invertebrate population is varied, mostly uncatalogued, and magnificent. Nocturnal hermit crabs, painted crayfish, octopus, shrimp, squid, shelled mulluscs. It comes to no surprise that international sportfishing enthusiasts are discovering our island. Fishing >>>

Many types of Sharks; Great White, Black-tip, White-tip, Reef, Hammerhead, Coastal, Long Tail, Brown, Blue, Blind. Bottle-nose Dolphins. Turtles (Ika Bula). Manta Rays. Sting Rays. Humpback Whales (springtime, Aug-Jan). Octopus. Squid. Bell fish. Wahoo. Barracuda. Travelly (Jacks). Skip Jack Tuna. Reef Cod. Red Cod. Sea Horses. Moray Eels...

Most commonly seen :: Sweetlips. Parrotfish. Sleeping Parrotfish. Schools of Buffalofish. Variety of Butterfly fish. Blennies. Nudibranchs. Rabbitfish. Sea Cucumbers. Blue Starfish. Pufferfish (Ballonfish). Clownfish ("Nemo"): black & white stripes, pink, black with yellow stripes, purple. Yokefish. Tigerfish (Vula). Bundlefish. Sea Snakes. Needlefish...

ASTROLABE CORAL REEF

According to "The Diving/Snorkeling Guide to Fiji" (1993) ::

The famous, thriving Astrolabe Reef is the fourth [4] largest in the world in size.

"Very few things have changed in these serene emerald [Kadavu] isles including the mesmerizing beauty of the surrounding coral reefs".

- "The fish populations in Fiji are amoung the richest on earth"

- Fiji is "home to 400+ species of corals"

- The density of soft corals here is tremendous, and proves why Fiji is precisely called "the soft coral capital of the world".

- Signature species are the Butterflyfishes & Angelfishes. Over 35+ species of Angelfish. These include: Lemonpeel Angelfish, Emperor Angelfish, Saddled Butterflyfish, and Latticed Butterflyfish.

- "The western flank of the Astrolabe Barrier Reef contains numerous channels, and passages because of these openings in the reef structure are situated in the barrier's lee, they offer exciting calm water starting point for scuba enthusiasts."

Dream Beaches :: Deep, super clear bright turqoise water drop off white soft sandy beaches. Unimaginably-patterned sea creatures and shells.

FLORA

Some Garden Flowers

Hibiscus:: 4 kinds. Red, yellow, pink, and a type that does not open to sunlight.

Protons: Does not flower. But the leaves are of all different bright colors.

Gardenias (Senijale):: 2 kinds. One is bright white, and it's fragrance can be scented from 20 meters away. The other is cream yellow, and is like pure perfume (similiar to Evening in Paris).

Rose:: Lots of different petal colors, and sizes. Some are fushia, yellow, white, maroon, orange, pink, red. Some small, and some have big petals.

Cevuga (Wax Flower):: 3 colors. Red, white, and pink. Some go tall, and some only grow short.

CauCau Ni Bogi: means "night breeze". Flower only releases it's scent after sun set.

Gazenies:: Different colors. Red, white, and pink. Really pretty. Flower shoots out of cabbage.

Senivau Tree:: Petals change color at mid-day.

Some Wild Flowers

Abraham Bush:: Butterflies are found around this beautiful plant. Cows and horses are alergic to this plant.

Senivutu:: Saffron elaborate flower. Fantail birds feed on the pollen.

Senivau:: Looks like Hibiscus, but grow into big trees. Bark is used to make ropes, since it's fibers super strong. One thick strand can lift a ton. Also, leaves are good to use for toliet paper!

TREES

Take a trek with a guide to learn about our native old growth trees, and varied our varied uses of the local ecology. Some trees include:

Dilo :: used for the bure posts, and bears fruit that has a seed which kids play with like marbles. Baka. Mangrove. Wet & Dry Coconut.
Vauvau - Cottonwool. Cotton is traditionally used as pillow stuffing because of it's softness, and used as first aid swaps.
Tavo :: if you cut out a core of the trunk and bury it, it will last for ages and is solid as a rock. Thus, it is regularly used as the foundation for building a bure.
Vetau :: This rare timber grows only in the sand, and is super tough. Tree is only found on Matanuku, and no where else in Kadavu.
Vesi :: Another one of Fiji's strongest woods. Matanuku has a dozen of tall old growth trees in the ancestoral sacred reserved grounds. It is uncommon to see such extra large versions of this species.

WILDLIFE

Birds :: According to "Birds of Fiji Bush", there are more than 70+ native species of native land birds in Fiji. 58 species of which are established native residents. No less than 40% - (23 species) are NOT found anywhere else in the world - endemic species. Fiji hosts a high degree of endemism, of uniqueness, due to the expanse of ocean between Fiji and it's western or melanaisen neighbors.

Kadavu region hosts an intact habitat for Honeyeaters. Parrots. Velvet-fruit doves.

Also have snakes, butterflies, iguanas, lizards, pigs, goats, cats, owls, parrots, bats (Fiji's only land mammal), dogs, and more...

LIVING TRADITIONAL FIJIAN VILLAGE

We invite you to come and see our every day semi self-subsistent wonderful rhythm of life.

It wasn't until the 1980's, that we adopted the use of currency. And changed from a community based entirely on bartering, to a system that recognises the need of money to pay for school fees, hospital bills, developing village projects, and supporting our church. We are poor, because we do not have much money. However we most importantly, and happily work with the land and sea to provide us with food, pleasure, shelter, and welfare.

We use our natural resources, and respect the land and water in our immediciacy. MORE...

20TH CENTURY HISTORY

Fiji .. England ceded Fiji.

Our broad hillside served as a British military outpost during the second world war since it was ideal watching spot for navy ships coming to Fiji from the south.

A well of Kerosene was discovered on Matanuku, and depleted by 1907.

HOW TO GET HERE

By Air

Viti Levu > Kadavu :: From the main island of Fiji, you take an awesome 45 minute flight from Nadi (International Airport) or Suva (Capital City) to Kadavu, Vunisea. Please see Air Fiji & Sun Air for time schedule.

Kadavu > Matanuku :: Once you arrive to our nature loving island, we will meet you at the airport and guide you our lovely pristine island south of Kadavu.

By Boat

Viti Levu, Suva > Kadavu:: From the main island of Fiji, you can take a ferry from Suva to Vunisea, Kadavu. Please see Kadavu Shipping Company for a time schedule.