The Naruwai, Bua, villager does not let the fact that she is a widow stop her from living life and running her kava and handicraft business at the Nausori Municipal Market.
The 59-year-old lost her husband last year and while she went about conducting her business, she admitted that it was tough having to do it all alone.
Arieta Namoto said her first sojourn into the kava trade was in Naruwai.
“At that time, I harvested $500 worth of kava and started selling kava and sent some to my sister in Nausori,” she said.
“She had a stall at the Nausori Market while I was still in the village. In 2003, I came to Nausori to run the business because my sister had to move when her husband, who was a health inspector, was transferred to Nabouwalu.”
Ms Namoto said one of the biggest challenges she faced was the huge amount of competition at the market.
Her kava business is known as Bula Re Kava and handicraft business is called Bula Re Handicraft.
“My father Paula Nakavika used to help me a lot with my business when he was alive because he had a lot of friends who were always supplying me with kava from Bua.
“I have quite a good number of customers who like the taste of the kava that I sell. And they are loyal as they come to buy their kava from my stall all the time.”
In terms of her handicraft business, Ms Namoto said the garlands or salusalu were hot sellers.
“When we have festivities, school graduation and weddings people buy lots of garlands. When there is a funeral or wedding people buy mats for such occasions.”
Ms Namoto said business took a downturn during the COVID-19 crisis this year, but she thanked God that she was able to continue running her business in Nausori. ”
After my father passed away, I had to look for another supplier and now I am getting my supply from Koro Island.
“I have been selling kava from Koro Island for about a year now and the taste is quite similar to the supply we used to get from Vanua Levu.”
Ms Namoto said through the business she has managed to support the education of children in her extended family.
“I always look after my nieces and nephews who come to further their education in Viti Levu.
“They have managed to get an education, secure a job and have moved on.”
She also said through her earnings from the kava business, she was able to buy land at Waituri and managed to build a house.
Ms Namoto has two daughters and four grandchildren.
“Now, I am looking after my youngest daughter who is in Year 9 at Dilkusha High School. My eldest daughter with her family are staying with me in Waituri.
“I am the happiest and most content when I see my grandchildren, they keep me going.”
