Bau Island Fiji GUEST REVIEWS

Bau Island Fiji
CULTURAL HERITAGE TOUR(s)
GUEST REVIEWS
VIP small group

Estimated times Bau Island 4 hours

Naililili Cathedral 4 hours

Koro Island Turtle Calling
from Monday 10am till Wednesday 6am.

GUEST REVIEWS - VIP small group

BAU DAY TOUR 2023 Thursday 5th January
GUEST REVIEW BY PAULINE POTTER. The Bau island tour is one of Fiji’s best hidden gems. I was picked up by esteemed driver Apisai Coli and historian guide Peni Sokia. We boarded the fibre glass boat at Bau landing and made the short trip over to Bau island. Our skipper was kind enough to circle the island so I could take in the scenery. Once on land, the Turaga ni Koro (head of village) of Bau, Ratu Viliame Savu, welcomed me onto the island with a traditional sevusevu ceremony. There are very few words that can accurately describe the atmosphere of Bau island. The air and the earth beneath my feet were charged with “mana” and prestige. It was here that I felt an overwhelming sense of humility and understood just how privileged I was to be there in the flesh. As a Pacific studies major at University, I was thrilled to be able to experience the island of Bau, given its important role in Fijian and wider Pacific history. My goal in coming to Bau island was to seek out more than what scholarly articles can provide, to experience authentic Fijian storytelling and it’s role in the preservation of Bauan history. What I got out of this tour was much more than this.

Guide Peni Sokia and headman Ratu Viliame Savu were gracious enough to escort me around the island, giving me in-depth explanations about the different buildings and sites. My personal favourite sites were the bathing pool, the church and the Sautabu (chiefly burial ground of the Vunivalu). The icing on the cake, though, was meeting the heir to the title Vunivalu na Tui Kaba, paramount chief of the Kubuna Confederacy Ratu Epenisa Cakobau. The Vunivalu title is one of three paramount chiefly titles in Fiji and rules over the Kubuna Confederacy. This meeting was very special as it was by pure chance that Ratu Epenisa was home. Guide Peni and headman Ratu Viliame performed the traditional “tama”, asking permission for our party to enter Ratu Epenisa’s compound. Ratu Epenisa was very kind, courteous and respectful. He showed us the house that was built specially for Queen Elizabeth’s visit to Bau island in 1982, for the opening of the Great Council of Chiefs. This was the highlight of my time on Bau island and I will cherish that moment for the rest of my life. After the tour I got to relax at Ratu Viliame’s house and mingle with his lovely family. They were so hospitable and provided a beautiful spread of fruits and traditional Fijian dishes.

Logistically speaking, the process from start to finish was flawless. Diana is very organised and provides clear communication. She walked me through each step of the process and made sure to check in every so often until the day of the tour. I am both humbled and privileged to have been Bau island’s first guest of 2023 and I take my hat off to Diana for organising everything. I was nervous at first, given that I was doing the tour alone. However, Diana and the team really made me feel special. So with this, I say vinaka vakalevu to Diana, Ratu Viliame and family, Peni, Apisai, Ratu Epenisa and the people of Bau island. God bless you all.

2023 Jan 5 Rt EpenisaCakobau & Guest PaulinePotter

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BAU DAY TOUR 2019 Wednesday 26th June.
INTRODUCE GUEST. Pam Baillee googled Bau Island, found Bau Highlights page and Quoting Pam: my brother and his wife live in Australia, myself and husband live in Auckland, and our 86 year old uncle are coming to Fiji … My uncle was born in Fiji, from missionary stock. Rev. James Small who, I understand, spent time on Bau, is my great grandfather. I have some wonderful photos of my great grandfather’s funeral in Suva. A huge procession, horse and cart with the streets lined with people. .. Back around 1991 or so was the Suva Grammar reunion. My husband and two children tagged along with Mum and Uncle Tony. It was a great trip and at the end we were not keen for it to end so we found a backpacker’s island resort at Leuleuvia and spent several days out there. On the boat over Mum was talking about Bau and I think we passed by. With the trip to Fiji in my mind, I was thinking about day trips from Pacific Harbour and wondered if it was possible to go to Bau, so I Googled that and your page came up. .. We would love to come and visit Bau and are going to be staying in Pacific Harbour.

GUEST REVIEW BY PAM BAILLIE BAU DAY TOUR 2019 Wednesday 26th June. My 87 year old uncle came with our family group to Bau Island, where his grandfather, Reverend Arthur James Small, a Methodist minister spent nine years at the mission post from 1895-1904. Our Guide was very friendly and helpful, making sure we were all welcomed and brought into the Bau Village. We enjoyed morning tea prepared by his family and then he took us on foot around the key sites and told of their historical significance and giving us an understanding of the significance of this island.

We had an impromptu visit to Ratu Ebinisa Cakobau, the great grandson of the great warrior chief who ended cannibalism after conversion to Christianity. We learned a great deal about their history, culture, and society as we toured.

We ended up in the church. It was awesome to see our great grandfather’s name on the wall amongst other ministers of the Bau Methodist Church. My uncle remembered coming to the church with his grandfather and seeing the baptismal font that was the killing stone of Bau Village, recalling that it was deeply stained with blood. The stone has now been painted so no signs of its bloody past. We enjoyed a lovely lunch of some traditional food and chicken curry.

My great grandmother’s memoirs describe settling into life here and getting involved in the community. Emma Jackson home-schooled her older three children, and she and her husband, Arthur, were very involved in the medical and pastoral care of the people of Bau:

They ran very popular singing practices each Sunday night …“If we taught them a new hymn with a good chorus we could go with the choir and sing outside the Chief’s house which pleased him very much.” … “My husband started English classes for the young men two evenings a week. They were very popular. He was also Captain of the students’ cricket team and enjoyed a game on the cricket ground with the young men.” Popular for the women and girls were Emma’s sewing and crochet classes “Our long verandahs were full twice a week … “It was beautiful to see these [ ] girls so intent on their work and soon had something to show for their trouble.”

It was very lonely at times, the facilities were very limited and everything had to be brought across from the mainland but although a very challenging time, it was a rewarding time that my great grandmother describes with great fondness. It was so interesting to be able to visualize and appreciate their life here in those days.

Many thanks for arranging this tour for us. We are humbled to have been able share in this place that has been so significant in the history of Fiji and having a special family connection for us. The authenticity of being amongst people going about their daily lives on this historic island, without the impact of commercialization and mass tourism, must be preserved.

Regards
Pam

RESEARCH (by Bau Reservations Diana before Bau Tour). Bau historical reference to Reverend Arthur James Small, Methodist minister spent nine years at the mission post from 1895-1904..

- Reverend Arthur James Small

- A Mission Divided: Race, Culture and Colonialism in Fiji’s Methodist Mission By Dr Kirstie Close-Barry

- LINK, profile history on Rev. Arthur James Small.

- Quoting LINK history article THE WESLEYANS ENTER FIJI page 14/ of 16: … Under the chairmanship of Arthur James Small between 1900 and 1924 the mission deferred as a rule to the British administration and the Australian-based Colonial Sugar Refining Company rather than to the cultural, spiritual and political aspirations of their new neighbours from the Indian sub-continent.

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BAU DAY TOUR 2019 Monday 15th April. Bau Reservations Diana arranged Same-Day Bau Day Tour, pick up 8:30am from Sofitel Fiji Resort Spa on Denarau Island, Nadi, Fiji and return 8:30pm.

GUEST REVIEW BY WAYNE LONG. Anyone visiting Fiji interested in seeing culturally historical sites should go to Bau Island. Arranging a visit, however, is easier said than done. Anyone wanting to visit the island will need an invitation. Diana Giesbrecht’s Bau Island Cultural Heritage Day Tour is the answer. Diana provides invaluable support. She knows the key people, is able to secure an invitation and arrange transportation to and from Suva’s airport to Bau Landing. Diana looks after the details and monitors the situation leaving out-of-town people to simply take in the sights and enjoy the experience.

Wayne Long
Lakewood, CA

INTRODUCE GUEST WAYNE LONG. Whats on Pacifica - FIJI GUIDE CEO David Barnes on Monday 21st March 2019, quoting Wayne’s message to David: We are booked at Sofitel Fiji Resort Spa on Denarau Island, Nadi, Fiji … and would like to visit Bau Island and see the ancient island capital. When I was in college in Eugene, Oregon my Senior Resident was Dr. Alan Tippett a Methodist Missionary from Australia to Fiji. Dr. Tippett served as the pastor of the local church. He told many interesting stories of his years on Bau. I would like to see for myself the island and its historical points of interest. Can you tell me how to get from my hotel to Bau Island. Is it possible to make the trip, visit the island and return to Denarau Island in one day? As you can see we only have two full days in Fiji so we want to make the most of our stay. I look forward to your reply. Sincerely yours, Wayne A. Long.”

RESEARCH (by Bau Reservations Diana before Bau Tour). Bau historical reference to Dr. Tippe Quoting my reply to Guest Wayne Long: Wonderful your reference to Dr. Alan R. Tippett's Book The Deep Sea Canoe will be an outstanding LINK to include in Guest Review. Likewise, LINK to Dr. Tippett strengthens viewers / Guests understanding of Bau Island -- paraphrasing Guest Wayne Long:) Dr. Tippett writes in Book Style Challenging Fijians to Learn. Dr. Tippett does not write to the scholar Audience, instead writes to Fijians to Learn their IDENTITY!. You also referred to a diagram in the book letting readers know Cakobau's Killing Stone is inside the Methodist Church; THAT the Church is situated to Local Custom. Right is the Chief. Left is Visiting Chief. Rank of men & women closest to the front & Back.

AFTER BAU TOUR, A QUESTION BY GUEST WAYNE LONG:
QUESTION: Why are there two Killing Stones on Bau?
ANSWER by Bau Reservations Diana quoting Bau Guide: One Killing Stone is Cakobau's, and inside the church. The second killing stone inside Bau's second village Lasakau is the Fisherman Village. In Fiji's Old Days of War, Lasakau had a Great Army. Warriors carry much power, reason they have their own Killing Stone."

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BAU DAY TOUR 2018 Saturday 6th October.
INTRODUCE GUEST Jean Rice, Architect specializing in cultural heritage conservation; visited Suva before helping with workshops in Levuka and assisting after TC Winston. Here this time assisting with the organization of a combined conference -- Australia ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites) and ICOMOS Pasifika.

INTRODUCE GUEST Wayne Johnson, Senior Archeologist Executive Committee of Australia ICOMOS -- acts as a national and international link between public authorities, institutions and individuals involved in the study and conservation of all places of cultural significance.

GUEST REVIEW by Jean Rice for both Jean Rice & Wayne Johnson. BAU DAY TOUR 6th OCTOBER 2018. Jean found Bau Island day tour online.

Diana, Thank you for organizing our small group tour to Bau. Our party was two people only and we felt this was ideal as it meant we could be easily hosted in the guide's home and we could walk around without being too intrusive. We are both professionals who work in heritage conservation and were attending a joint ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites) Pasifika and Australia ICOMOS conference in Levuka and Suva. The conference was called CULTURE: Conserving It Together.

The rain stopped and we had a stunning sunny day for our visit. We were looked after carefully and respectfully and didn't feel we were intruding. From the landing we walked to the family home and had a cool drink before being presented to the chief and elders at a sevusevu ceremony. We were a little intimidated but then delighted to find a mutual interest in history as we examined a tracing of an historical plan of Bau.

The island has a stone seawall with about 20 docks set into the wall for mooring vessels. We walked around the island accompanied by our host and greeted warmly by passersby - several of whom invited us in to their home for drinks or food - but food was waiting us at our host's home. I was particularly moved at the centre of the island where the historical Vatanitawake temple stands on one side of the village green from the Methodist church. Oral history has it that Ratu Cakobau walked from the temple to the church when he converted to Christianity and said that this was the longest walk of his life.

We then had lunch in our host's home with a sumptuous traditional spread with rice, naan, cassava and taro paired with two different chicken curries, accompanied by mango juice, and followed by fruit and cake. We finished with a final talanoa at the meeting hall where we talked about our experience and thanked our host and the village elders.

Regards

Jean

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BAU DAY TOUR 2018 Saturday 14th April
INTRODUCE Richard Bull & Anita Calimbo. Richard found Bau Island day tours online. Both guests visited Bau Island, nearby Historical Naililili Cathedral, nearby Coli-i-Suva Rainforest Tour, and refreshments at Coli-i-Suva Eco Lodge.

Richard Bull
WORK:
Closed Caption Co-Ordinator – Inbound Content
FOXTEL Television Australia
5 Thomas Holt Drive, North Ryde NSW 2113
www.foxtel.com.au

Anita Calimbo
WORK:
Investigation Specialist – International Police Co-Operation
FEDERAL BUREAU OF POLICE
Nussbaumstrasse 29, 3003 Bern Switzerland
www.fedpol.ch

GUEST REVIEW OF BAU DAY TOUR 2018 Satruday April 14th by Richard: When my friend Anita and I were looking to visit Fiji, we wanted to see more than the tourist sights. In my research I stumbled upon Diana’s webpage about Bau – I was fascinated! I had also heard about the Rewa Delta and the Naililili Church and asked Diana if she could combine the 2 visits in 1 day. She was very accommodating and organised everything including our driver Apisai who was also a great companion.

Review – Island of Bau Sat 14th April 2018
My friend and I were driven to the boat landing for the short journey across to Bau Island. Our host Ratu Sake Jr welcomed us into the family home with refreshments and we immediately felt how honoured we were to be invited to this chiefly island. Our walking tour visited the Vatanitawake Temple, Meeting House and Methodist Church which all surround the village green. We passed by several small communities and the island’s only school while finding out about the history of Bau as well as how the life exists today. We were also treated to a home cooked Fijian meal of chicken curry with rice and cassava for lunch. Due to a recent funeral, our host was very mindful of not intruding too much on village life. However we were still made very welcome at our sevusevu ceremony. It was a once in a lifetime experience.

Review – Naililili Church Sat 14th April 2018
Once back at the Bau landing, we were then driven to meet our host Leba for a magnificent tour of the Naililili Church. First we were greeted with a traditional salusalu (garland or lei) and sevusevu (kava) ceremony in her family home. After a short boat ride on the Rewa delta we arrived at the Naililili Church which is the most unbelievable historical building in all of Fiji. Built by French missionaries at the turn of the 20th century, it has imported stained glass windows with biblical quotes in Fijian. Its grandeur and reverence is commanding. While it may be in a deteriorating condition, it is an active church and house of praise for the local parishioners like our host. We realised that our visit to the Naililili Church with Leba will remain in our memory for a long time.

Richard & Anita the next day expanded their tour again to include nearby Coli-i-Suva Rainforest Park and Eco Lodge for refreshments.

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BAU ISLAND DAY TOUR 2017 Tuesday 25th July
INTRODUCE Guests Rev Harry Lucas 88 years young retired Methodist Minister, and Rev Harry's daughter Jan. Jean found Bau Island day tours online and explains her father, Rev. Harry Lucas was the Assistant Superintendent of the Rewa Division of the Methodist Church in Suva in the early 1960's. Jan was only a baby when their family moved to Suva. Jan went onto explain Setareki Tuilavoni was the first president of the Methodist Church in Fiji at the time, and Jan was baptized by him. Jan's father decided he would like to return to see Fiji and if he could find some old friends. They planned their trip last minute. Jan went onto explain her father was invited to visit Bau when he was there in the 60's and had hoped to show his daughter such a significant place!

GUEST REVIEW by REV HARRY LUCAS visit to Bau 25th July 2017: My daughter Jan, and I visited Fiji for the first time since we lived in Fiji in the early nineteen sixties and were delighted to be able to visit the chiefly island of Bau. This was organised by Diana of Bau Day Tours with very little notice, and we were honoured to be received as guests.

We were picked up and transported by taxi and boat to and from the island by Mata ni Tikina’s personal Driver. Mata ni Tikina our gracious host for the day welcomed us to his house where we were given a briefing and offered light refreshments. Visits to the Meeting House, School, Methodist Church, memorial grave of Ratu Cakobau preceded by the Kava ceremony of welcome, made for a memorable day.

This experience will give the visitor some idea of the cultural and historical background to wonderful Fiji.

Rev. Harry Lucas, Australia.

GUEST REVIEW by JAN LUCAS visit Bau 25th July 2017. My father, Rev. Harry Lucas was the Assistant Superintendent of the Rewa Division of the Methodist Church in Suva in the early 1960’s. I was only a baby when we moved here and lived in Suva with my mother and three older brothers. Setareki Tuilavoni was the first president of the Methodist Church in Fiji at the time, and I was baptized by him. My father recently decided (at the age of 88) that he would like to return to see Fiji and try to find some old friends. He was invited to visit Bau when he was here in the 60’s and had hoped to show me such a significant place.

Diana Giesbrecht was able to organise a tour for us at very short notice, we had the privilege of being welcomed onto Bau Island and of meeting Mata ni Tikina Ratu Epineri Sake Mateilevuka (Tusaki) - a very special experience indeed. I must thank you again for facilitating that for us Diana, and giving me the opportunity to see the beautiful Fiji beyond the (sometimes superficial) tourist experience. You were so very generous with your time too - inviting us into your home and introducing us to others in the community. I have very fond memories of that time.

back to HIGHLIGHTS Bau Island

Estimated times Bau Island 4 hours | Naililili Church 2 & half hours | Koro Island Turtle Calling from Monday 10am till Wednesday 6am. Expanded Tour Intinerary Interested Parties Contact:

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