Serua Island is a hidden gem worth discovering if you fancy the occasional “off the beaten track” adventure.
From a junction on the Queens Highway, just before Talenaua, a gritty road will whisk you to the coast, past tiered forest trees that enjoy unadulterated ocean breezes blowing in from the south.
If you are from the city, you’ll forget its many mundane features, like the coffee culture and roasted beans, the sound of exhaust pipes and cooing doves, and the sight of pulsating urban life. Clean air will settle on your face like a balm for the weary skin and natural sounds will be music to your ears. After almost 30 minutes of descending, you will get off at the landing bus stop.
An outboard-powered fibreglass boat will ferry you across to the island while you sip on fresh coconut juice.
Serua Island is the chiefly village of the province of Serua, fondly known as the home of Fiji’s adventure capital, Pacific Harbour, and the rustic riverside community of Navua.
From a distance, the island looks like a saddle of sorts, with two hills at its ends forming the pommel and cantle, and the village laid out neatly on the green between them. As a province, Serua is resplendent with natural wonders that place it both as a potential eco-tourism capital and a tropical beach haven.
The Navua River snakes past many cascading waterfalls that bathe black cliff faces, adding to the natural grandeur of the province’s river flora and fauna. Apart from being the water highway that connects it to many delta villages and communities, the Navua River plays host to some signature white water rafting and river-tubing.
The dense Serua jungle, one of Fiji’s biggest mahogany nurseries, is perfect for hiking and zip-lining.
Visit Serua’s coral reefs and you’ll be captivated by the teeming colours of its underwater wonderland manifested in my fish, seashells and other marine life. The words “mutu cola vina” will greet you at the disembarkation spot along Serua Village’s seawall. This is where you get off at the edge of the village.
The Sunday Times was invited to the island towards the end of last year to witness Serua Island youths engage in an information-sharing workshop and prize-giving ceremony. It was an awesome adventure, as much as it had been a great learning experience.
Vude Queen, Laisa Vulakoro, offi ciated as the day’s motivational speaker and guest artist. Many who had never seen the local celebrity “up close” were shocked by the star’s down-toearth and charming personality.
“I come from humble beginnings but I always had my dream close to my heart,” Vulakoro said, reminiscing about her childhood years on the island of Yacata in Cakaudrove.
She said she always wanted to be a star and knew that one day she would leave her home island and travel the world.
“But that could not have happened without hard work. I had to do my very best to rise to the top of the local music industry. If I can do it then you can too, in whatever field or career you choose.”
Vulakoro brought the community hall down with a powerful rendition of all her top hits that have wowed Fijians throughout the years– from Jule ni Hanahana and Isa Sitiveni to Bili na Bara and Bitu Kavoro.
In between jam sessions, officers from the Fiji Police Force and National Fire Authority conducted their awareness sessions.
Youths were briefed on the dangers of abusing drugs, especially the influx of synthetic ones like “ice” that are fl ooding the local market and affecting the mental health of many young abusers.
They were also drilled on fire safety and educated on ways to keep their homes and lives free from the ravages of fires. The concert started around 11am and ended at 11pm, just when islanders were getting into the groove and still very eager to show off their best dance moves. Amazingly, there were no tired feet. Even the golden oldies wore their best pair of legs.
“It was more than what we had asked for,” said youth event coordinator, Sefanaia Ubitau.
“Everyone enjoyed and appreciated Laisa’s presence and energy.”
Early next morning, every household was abuzz with stories of the Vude Queen’s gig on the island the previous night. Draunimoli was drunk late as mothers gathered around the kitchen fire with their children, yarning about their first encounter with Vulakoro. Men slept in.
Many had stayed up late the night before, opting to talanoa around the grog bowl while listening to live music and watching their wives and children take their turn on the dance floor.
The workshop and concert was sponsored by TABS Investments, local exporters of highgrade timber and lumber to international guitar brands. Youths organised a day-long picnic the following day on one of Serua’s untouched and secluded beaches.
The icing on the cake was tucking into a mouth-watering lunch featuring a spread of fresh fish and cawaki cooked in the open fire and eaten with drabs of seawater, lemon and chillies (waitanutanu).
If you are the kind who likes seafood delicacies and loves getting close to nature, Serua Island is a place you need to include in your bucket list.
The best part of my trip was visiting a new place and learning about its culture, traditions and old stories of how the people of Korolevu left Noikoro in the heartland of Navosa and ended up on the tiny island of Serua.
To all youth members of Serua Island – a big vinaka vakalevu to you for being such great hosts and best wishes in all your planned activities for 2022!
