Totoya
Encyclopedia
Totoya is a volcanic
island in the Moala
subgroup of Fiji
's Lau
archipelago
. It occupies an area of 28 square kilometers, making it the smallest of the Moalas. Its maximum altitude is 366 meters. The main economic activity is coconut
farming.
Totoya falls under the provincial administration of the Lau group.
There are three waves that would rise out of nowhere to punish the intruder. The first a low one serves as a warning to stop the taboo, the second a bigger wave then the first serves as a last warning with the last the biggest of the three comes in with sand and rocks from the ocean depth to bury the intruder into the sea depths. It still works today as when it was first sanctioned by Kubuavanua when he left Verata. Legend goes that when he saw Totoya from afar off he says that it is Totoka meaning beautiful. He sailed through this very passage and bestowed the Taboo on it saying, I am the first chief to sail through here and anyone that comes after must follow protocol on those things that he proclaimed taboo.
This passage leads in to the beautiful deep bay that is surrounded by the horseshoe shaped island. The island's unspoiled, untouched white sandy beaches are comparable with any in Fiji or the world. Its surfing is world-renowned, but the difficulty in reaching the island keeps most away. The island has a well-placed jetty, 4 primary schools, not including Vanuavatu, which has its own, a Post office/shop, and radio station at Ketei and Dravuwalu. It is accessible with satellite phone, but not mobile phone.
The island has 4 villages with Tovu the capital and seat of the Turaga na Roko Sau whose household site is known as Mataiilakeba meaning first in Lakeba or Eyes of Lakeba, Ketei is the seat of Tui Keteni traditionally known as Ramalo, Dravuwalu the seat of Tui Dravuwalu traditionally known as Nakorowaiwai and Udu the seat of Tui Udu traditionally known as Muaicokalau. The island of Vanuavatu, although closer to Lakeba than Totoya is the fifth village and is the seat of Tui Vanua.
The island of Vanuavatu traditionally was an independent Island that was not in any way obliged in servitude to any of the chiefly islands within the "Yasayasa Moala" group, this Independence was won via a traditional show of bravery by the islands Forefather. The agreement was in place till the colonial times when the colonial government administratively subdivided the Provinces into districts, with a Colonial appointed chief or 'Buli' as leader, thus the island had to fall into a colonial administered district of which it was put under Totoya. Traditionally the high chief of the Totoya district does not have any dominion over Vanuavatu island, and the Mainland Totoyans traditionally address the elders of Vanuavatu as "Matua i Valelevu", which is symbolic of historic pre-colonial ties and agreements.
The chiefly village of Tovu (Dawaleka) was shifted from its former site at the opposite side of the island (Navuli) in the 1800 through traditional request from Ramalo and other island chiefs to ease their undertaking of traditional obligations to the Roko Sau.
One episode that shows the link between Lakeba and Totoya was the arrival of Christianity. The Tui Nayau at that time sent his wife and herald to Dawaleka. The Bete was performing his ritual when he envisaged the canoe coming in through the boat passage at Yaro and he proclaimed, I will stop here as the one coming in white is shining and much stronger than me. He disrobed and came down to shore with the villagers to greet the group from Lakeba.
The island is very rich in marine resources and one could have a field day out at sea. One famous delicacy is Lairo or land crads which is plentiful all year around. Giant sea clam, sea weeds and just about any variety of fish can be caught through fishing line, spearing, fishing net or underwater diving.
The soil, although not very fertile, is good for subsistence farming. Cassava, sweet potato, and yams grow well in the island, with dalo being planted in waterlogged well drained areas. The island has its fair share of wildlife, too. This includes pigs, dogs, cats, bats, birds, and reptiles, including snakes.
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
island in the Moala
Moala Islands
The Moala Islands are a subgroup of Fiji's Lau archipelago. Its three islands are located west of the Lau Islands proper, and were historically linked more closely with Bau Island and Viti Levu than with Lau. They we unified by Ratu Sukuna to part of the Lau congregation to support traditional...
subgroup of Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
's Lau
Lau Islands
The Lau Islands of Fiji are situated in the southern Pacific Ocean, just east of the Koro Sea. Of this chain of about one hundred islands and islets, about thirty are inhabited...
archipelago
Archipelago
An archipelago , sometimes called an island group, is a chain or cluster of islands. The word archipelago is derived from the Greek ἄρχι- – arkhi- and πέλαγος – pélagos through the Italian arcipelago...
. It occupies an area of 28 square kilometers, making it the smallest of the Moalas. Its maximum altitude is 366 meters. The main economic activity is coconut
Coconut
The coconut palm, Cocos nucifera, is a member of the family Arecaceae . It is the only accepted species in the genus Cocos. The term coconut can refer to the entire coconut palm, the seed, or the fruit, which is not a botanical nut. The spelling cocoanut is an old-fashioned form of the word...
farming.
Totoya falls under the provincial administration of the Lau group.
Geography
The island is an inverted horseshoe well protected by high reef. There are a number of boat passage through the surrounding reef, with the most famous being "Daveta Tabu". If one ones to pass through this passage one has to follow protocol by observing all the Taboos like making noises, yelling, wearing a hat or even smoking. One has to go through in total silence. Failing to observe the taboo reaction from the sea passage would follow.There are three waves that would rise out of nowhere to punish the intruder. The first a low one serves as a warning to stop the taboo, the second a bigger wave then the first serves as a last warning with the last the biggest of the three comes in with sand and rocks from the ocean depth to bury the intruder into the sea depths. It still works today as when it was first sanctioned by Kubuavanua when he left Verata. Legend goes that when he saw Totoya from afar off he says that it is Totoka meaning beautiful. He sailed through this very passage and bestowed the Taboo on it saying, I am the first chief to sail through here and anyone that comes after must follow protocol on those things that he proclaimed taboo.
This passage leads in to the beautiful deep bay that is surrounded by the horseshoe shaped island. The island's unspoiled, untouched white sandy beaches are comparable with any in Fiji or the world. Its surfing is world-renowned, but the difficulty in reaching the island keeps most away. The island has a well-placed jetty, 4 primary schools, not including Vanuavatu, which has its own, a Post office/shop, and radio station at Ketei and Dravuwalu. It is accessible with satellite phone, but not mobile phone.
The island has 4 villages with Tovu the capital and seat of the Turaga na Roko Sau whose household site is known as Mataiilakeba meaning first in Lakeba or Eyes of Lakeba, Ketei is the seat of Tui Keteni traditionally known as Ramalo, Dravuwalu the seat of Tui Dravuwalu traditionally known as Nakorowaiwai and Udu the seat of Tui Udu traditionally known as Muaicokalau. The island of Vanuavatu, although closer to Lakeba than Totoya is the fifth village and is the seat of Tui Vanua.
The island of Vanuavatu traditionally was an independent Island that was not in any way obliged in servitude to any of the chiefly islands within the "Yasayasa Moala" group, this Independence was won via a traditional show of bravery by the islands Forefather. The agreement was in place till the colonial times when the colonial government administratively subdivided the Provinces into districts, with a Colonial appointed chief or 'Buli' as leader, thus the island had to fall into a colonial administered district of which it was put under Totoya. Traditionally the high chief of the Totoya district does not have any dominion over Vanuavatu island, and the Mainland Totoyans traditionally address the elders of Vanuavatu as "Matua i Valelevu", which is symbolic of historic pre-colonial ties and agreements.
The chiefly village of Tovu (Dawaleka) was shifted from its former site at the opposite side of the island (Navuli) in the 1800 through traditional request from Ramalo and other island chiefs to ease their undertaking of traditional obligations to the Roko Sau.
One episode that shows the link between Lakeba and Totoya was the arrival of Christianity. The Tui Nayau at that time sent his wife and herald to Dawaleka. The Bete was performing his ritual when he envisaged the canoe coming in through the boat passage at Yaro and he proclaimed, I will stop here as the one coming in white is shining and much stronger than me. He disrobed and came down to shore with the villagers to greet the group from Lakeba.
The island is very rich in marine resources and one could have a field day out at sea. One famous delicacy is Lairo or land crads which is plentiful all year around. Giant sea clam, sea weeds and just about any variety of fish can be caught through fishing line, spearing, fishing net or underwater diving.
The soil, although not very fertile, is good for subsistence farming. Cassava, sweet potato, and yams grow well in the island, with dalo being planted in waterlogged well drained areas. The island has its fair share of wildlife, too. This includes pigs, dogs, cats, bats, birds, and reptiles, including snakes.
Prominent people from Totoya
Famous people of Totoya include:- Mataika Tuicakau, who made Fiji world famous by winning the shotput gold medal in the 1958 Empire (Commonwealth) Games in Auckland. He also won the silver medal in the discus/javelin event.
- Enele Malele, who was the former Fiji rugby rep and captain.
- Takayawa family who are know for sporting attributes Viliame Takayawa Snr was the father of judo in Fiji. Eldest son Viliame Waka Takayawa, a sport administrator and scientist, younger brother Nacanieli Takayawa, who won the Manchester's Commonwealth Games gold medal in judo.
- Aisea Taoka, who was the Deputy Commissioner of Police before becoming the Commissioner of prisons.
- Captain Nacanieli Saumi, who was an Air Pacific pilot.
- Josateki Savou, who was a former Fiji sevens failure and failed coach.
- Viliame Waka, who was a former school teacher, airport administrator, and Fiji rugby rep.
- There were also Drs Jiko and two brothers Dr Salesi and Dr Jioji Savou (the latter a Physician and Dentist) from Ketei.
- Trevor Savou, who was a former Manawatu and New Zealand Rugby Sevens player.