Being remotely located on the fringes of Fiji’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) has not stopped women from Ono-i-Lau from making a livelihood.
Matokana villager Taina Wati says the challenges they go through make life on the island sweeter and meaningful.
Ms Wati said women made a living from the sale of mats traditional to the people of Ono and even pandanus leaves which were sold to urban areas transported by franchise shipping vessels.
Another villager, Sotia Cilavisiga, said the sale of mats earned them quick money because their mats were one of the best in the country.
The 65-year-old said Ono-i-Lau mats stood out because it had a lot of Tongan influence which made them unique.
“These mats could fetch us $500 to $300 depending on the intricacy of the mats which also requires a lot of effort from the women,” she said.
“Otherwise we sell pandanus leaves or kie for $20 to $50 depending on the size of kie rolls we send across to Viti Levu where it is not commonly accessible to women,” she said.
“The little we earn assists us to put our children across to school and also to contribute to the village’s development projects or church contributions.
“Sometimes we are queried on how we are able to make a living on the island, but it is more enjoyable here but ours is often a challenge depending on the availability of resources.”
