Cultural Survival

Preserving Fijian culture is essential to the people there.  People in the villages still practice many traditional ceremonies such as the lovo, the meke, and the kava ceremonies.  The lovo ceremonry involves the preparation of a feast, similar to a barbeque but a little more smoked and a very efficient way to provide food for a large number of people.  The meke ceremony embraces traditional song and dance to tell of the legends, love stories, history, and spirits of the islands.  The kava ceremony involves presenting the national drink of Fiji to a guest or honored member of the village.  Kava is made from the pulverized root of a member of the pepper family, resulting in a numb tongue and mellow feeling.  It is believed to have medicinal qualities.

It is nice to know that the traditional Fiji life hasn't been exploited due to the vast amount of tourism.  The people there are conscious of sustainable tourism practices.  The villages are almost completely self-sustaining and many of the resorts also strive for self-sufficiency.  Many of the tour companies practice responsible tourism in an effort to preserve what is there.