Fiji Islands

Country Basics

The Fiji Islands are in the South Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and New Zealand, though the nation is not particularly close to either of them. Fiji’s main island is more than 1000 miles from New Zealand and about 3000 miles from Hawaii.

There are more than 330 islands in the archipelago. 106 are officially occupied. Across these islands, there is a population of about 900,000 people. About 70% of them live on Viti Levu, which is the largest island and includes the capital city Suva. The nation also includes more than 500 islets.

Brief History

There are several stories about how Fijians ended up in the islands. In one, Fijians trace back their arrival to the snake god Degei. Storytellers say Degei went on an ocean journey to Lautoka, Fiji, where he established the first human settlement.

Today it’s said the snake god lives in a cave. Some Fijians believe they pass through that cave when they die so that Dejei can judge them. Another story credits Chief Lutunasobasoba. Storytellers say he came to the islands by canoe in 1500 B.C.

As a hub in the Pacific Ocean, inhabitants of Fiji came from all over Polynesia. The first European settlements were established in the early 1800s and Fiji was a colony of Britain until 1970.

Since its independence from Britain, Fiji has experienced years of unstable democratic ruling due to ethnic tensions between indigenous Fijians and Indian Fijians. The government was overthrown twice in 1987 because of concern that it was too dominated by the Indian community.

In 1990, a new constitution was created formally establishing indigenous Fijian dominance. It was not until 1997 that a more equitable constitution was enacted.

In 1999, peaceful elections were held and Mahendra Chaudhry became the first Indo-Fijian leader. However, his rule did not last long as it was overthrown by a civilian-led group in 2000.

Another election was held in 2001 and Laisenia Qarase was elected prime minister only to be ousted in 2006 by a non-violent military coup. The coup’s leader Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama took over the position and the courts later ruled the coup legal. In September 2009, Fiji was suspended from the Commonwealth of Nations over its lack of progress towards democracy.

In 2012, the government agreed that it would hold free elections in 2014, prompting Fiji’s powerful neighbors Australia and New Zealand to restore full diplomatic ties. The elections held in September of 2014 were regarded as a success with a voter turnout of 80 percent.

Language

Fiji has three official languages: English, Fijian, & Fiji Hindi. The Fijian language has nearly 200 different dialects. The Fiji Hindi language began after Indians were brought to Fiji as indentured servants during British colonial rule.

Since English is an official language, it’s easier for English speakers to navigate around the country. Still, it’s good to know some Fijian words and phrases before traveling. Here are some that may help.

Greetings

• Hello: Bula
• How are you?: Sa vakacava?
• Good: Sa donu
• Good morning: Yandra
• Good night: Moce
• Welcome: Vinaka
• Goodbye: Moce

Etiquette

• Please: Kerekere
• Thank you: Vinaka
• Excuse me: Tilo (pronounced chi-lo)
• Sorry: Vosoti au

Pronouns

• I: Au
• You: O iko
• He/she: O koya
• We: Keda
• You (plural): Kemunī
• They: O ira

Conversational

• What is your name?: O cei nayacamu?
• My name is __.: Na yacaqu o __.
• Where are you from?: O lako mai vei?
• I am from __.: O au mai __.
• How old are you?: Sa yabaki vica?
• I am ___ years old: Au sa yabaki __.
• Do you speak English?: O iko vosa vavalagi?
• I speak a little Fijian: O au kila vakalailai na vosa vaka viti.
• Could you repeat that please?: Kerekere vakaruataka tale mada?
• How do you say ___ in Fijian?: Baun ___ i viti?
• I don’t understand: Ao senga ni kila.
• I want to go to __.: O au sa via lako __.
• Where is ___?: Sai vei o ___?
• I would like __.: O au via __.
• How much is it?: E vica na?

Present tense

• To want: Vinakata
• I want: Au vinakata
• You want: O vinakata
• He/she wants: O koya e vanakata
• You (plural) want: Ere vinakata

Feelings

• I am __.: O au __.
• cold: batabata
• hot: katakata
• sleepy: via moce
• hungry: via kana
• thirsty: via gunu
• angry: cundru
• happy: marau
• sad: rarawa
• tired: wawale

Cultural Expectations

While in Fiji, you can expect…
to be greeted with warm hospitality (Fijians are often called the friendliest people in the world), a strong respect for community, and a culture that is tied to the land and sea.

While in Fiji, locals will expect you…
to show respect for the household by taking off your shoes and covering your knees and shoulders, and to show respect for the culture by following the rules of the village.

Cultural Icon:
Vijay Singh (“The Big Fijian”) is a professional golfer who was No. 1 in the Official World Golf Rankings for 32 weeks in 2004 and 2005. He has won three major championships (The Masters in 2000 and the PGA Championship in 1998 and 2004). Singh was born in Lautoka, Fiji, and grew up in Nadi.

Weather

June, July and August are winter months in Fiji, but it’s still rather warm. June also is one of the months with the most sunshine. Here are the average weather conditions you may expect in Fiji:

Food & Drink

Aside from kava, other foods and drink you may have in Fiji are:

• Lovo – meats, fish, and vegetables cooked underground in banana leaves (lovo pit)
• Rourou – a dish made of taro leaves
• Tavioka – a baked dish made of tapioca and mashed bananas
• Duruka – asparagus-like vegetable
• Palusami – fish or pork steamed with coconut milk and taro leaves
• Black tea and crackers during afternoon tea time

Currency

The national currency is the Fijian dollar (FJD). The symbol FJ$ is used to distinguish it from the U.S. Dollar. Like the U.S. currency, the Fijian dollar is divided into 100 cents. One Fijian dollar is worth about 46 U.S. cents.

Coins come in the following denominations: 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, 1 dollar, 2 dollars. Notes are in these denominations: 5 dollars, 10 dollars, 20 dollars, 50 dollars, 100 dollars

Credit cards are accepted at many locations, but we recommend having cash for souvenirs, particularly in remote locations. Since Fiji is a communal culture, tipping is not expected.

Social Norms

While in Fiji, you’ll be greeted with warm hospitality. Fijians have a strong respect for community and a culture that’s tied to the land and sea. Here are some social norms to keep in mind while traveling:

• Take off your shoes and cover your knees and shoulders while in a local household. You will given a “sulu,” which is a traditional Fijian sarong that you’ll wear for some gatherings.
• Follow the rules of the village.
• Don’t wear a hat or put anything else on your head like sunglasses. Only village chiefs can wear hats.
• Do not touch people’s heads.
• Wear long, loose fitting shorts during service (not leggings).
• Keep in mind that Fijians commonly raise their eyebrows for a “yes” rather than nodding.

When guests enter a Fijian village, they’re expected to bring a small gift. This is often kava, which is a national drink made from a pepper plant. Rustic Pathways students don’t need to worry about this social norm, but awareness of it helps.

The students will be welcomed with a traditional kava ceremony. For this event everyone sits on the floor in a circle. Participants will clap at certain moments during the ceremony, which will be explained.

Keep in mind when you receive the kava you’re expected to drink the whole serving and not just sip it. If you want a smaller serving, ask the leader for “low tide.”

Whenever in doubt while in Fiji, just say “Bula!” and all will be well.

Religion

There are a variety of religions practiced in Fiji. Here is the estimated breakdown based on a 2007 census: Protestant 45%, Hindu 27.9%, other Christian 10.4%, Roman Catholic 9.1%, Muslim 6.3%, Sikh 0.3%

Ethnic Groups

Much of the population is descended from the islands’ original settlers. Others are Indo-Fijians who trace their ancestry to various South Asian regions. Most Indo-Fijians have an ancestor from India. Indians first came to Fiji in the late 1800s as indentured servants, when Fiji was under British colonial rule. They predominantly worked in the sugarcane sector.

The breakdown of the population as of 2007 was: iTaukei (Fijian) 56.8% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian admixture), Indo-Fijian 37.5%, Rotuman 1.2%, other 4.5% (European, other Pacific Islanders, Chinese)

Hot Topics About Fiji

• Reef System: Fiji is home to the third-largest reef system in the world. There are over 1,000 reefs covering an estimated 10,000 square kilometers throughout the islands. These reefs are home to thousands of exotic marine species, including over 1,200 varieties of fish. Climate change, over-fishing, and tourism threaten the health of the islands’ beautiful coral landscape.
• Tourism: Tourism is the primary industry in Fiji next to the production of sugar. The industry contributes about one-third of the nation’s GDP, and the government estimates that it provides employment to about 150,000 people. In 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, over 894,000 visitors passed through the Fiji Islands.
• Ethnic Tensions: Ethnic tensions have plagued Fiji’s political scene and were one of the root causes of past political instability. Indians were brought over during the period of British rule to work in the sugar cane fields. While the population used to be fairly split between indigenous Fijians and Indo-Fijians, many of the Indo-Fijians fled after the string of coups.
• Economic Challenges: Similar to several other countries in the region, Fiji faces economic challenges resulting from its small size, geographic isolation, and natural disaster vulnerability. The percentage of the population living below the poverty line has fluctuated in recent decades, with significant improvements. As of 2020, the poverty rate was approximately 24.5%.
• Natural Disasters: Fiji is highly vulnerable to natural disasters, including cyclones, floods, and earthquakes. These events frequently impact the country’s economy, infrastructure, and living conditions.
• Climate Change: Rising sea levels and increased frequency of severe weather events due to climate change pose significant threats to Fiji’s environment and economy. The government and various organizations are working on mitigation and adaptation strategies to address these challenges.

Did You Know?

Here are other tidbits about the nation:

• It’s said the name Fiji was born after Captain Cook misheard the Tongans name for islands, which was Viti.
• Tourism is the primary industry in Fiji, followed by agriculture.
• About 87 per cent of Fijian land is communal land, owned by indigenous Fijians and held in a statutory trust by the iTaukei Land Trust Board.
• Fiji was once known as the Cannibal Isles. Archaeological evidence suggests that cannibalism dates back more than 2,500 years in Fiji. Locals believed that consuming an enemy allowed you to gain their knowledge. The practice stopped when Christianity spread. The last known act occurred in 1867, when Methodist missionary Reverend Thomas Baker and six Fijian teachers were killed.
• Fiji is made up of 332 islands (of which 106 are inhabited) and more than 500 islets spread over 7,000 miles.
• The popular bottled water, “Fiji Water” is in fact bottled in Fiji.
• In Fiji, palm trees are considered dangerous. There’s a saying that a coconut has eyes and spies for someone to fall on.
• The most popular sports in Fiji are rugby and football (soccer).
• Fiji’s rugby team won gold in the 2016 Summer Olympics.
• The practice of walking on hot stones began in Fiji. Traditional firewalkers believe a spirit god trapped in an eel gave warriors the power to walk without being burned. The eel granted the power in exchange for freedom.
• Fiji is on the International Date Line, which means it’s one of the first places in the world to usher in a new day. There’s a spot on Taveuni Island where a person can stand with one foot in the current day and one foot in the day before.
• Fiji’s beaches feature beautiful white sand that is actually made up of ground coral and sea shells.