Archeological findings have suggested that Fiji was first settled some 3500 years ago, by Austronesians.
Scientific discovery revealed the first settlers of the Fiji group were the Lapita people who had journeyed from as far as South China and or Taiwan.
Linguistic findings have revealed that the word Fiji originated from the Tongan word Fisi, which is how Tongans pronounced Viti.
Accordingly the word Viti originated when the early settlers were on their journey to Fiji. Viti means — na icabecabe ni siga (where the sun rises).
It is believed when they were approaching the Yasawa Group, which is also known as the ancestral pathway, the sun was rising ahead of them, so they named the island Naviti — where the sun rises, thus the origins of the name of the island Naviti.
As they passed Naviti Island a much bigger island could be seen, thus it was named Viti Levu (bigger than Naviti or the island bigger than Naviti, and that the sun had actually risen from Viti Levu.
Viti Levu is the largest island in Fiji.
Naviti Island is located 17.13° South and 177.25° East of the Fiji Group.
The island covers an area of 34 square km, with a maximum elevation of 388m.
According to Wikipedia the first known European to visit Naviti was William Bligh in 1789, before experiencing mutiny on his ship, the HMS Bounty.
Seven villages are on the island of Naviti — Soso, Kese, Gunu, Somosomo, Marou, Muere, and Malevu, with Soso as its chiefly village.
Tucked away in a wide band on the north of the island is Gunu Village — home to 306 villagers, 70 of whom are children below the age 14.
As familiar a sight in the entire Yasawa Group, Gunu Village is garlanded by a white sandy beach with a mountain range providing the perfect backdrop when the sun sets over the horizon.
According to village headman and traditional spokesman Waisale Nasau, the first settlers of the village were members of his tokatoka, Dugulutu.
Originally from Vitogo in Lautoka, his forefathers had made the journey to the Naviti in search of land.
They first arrived at Marou before they emigrated to Somosomo.
“Ni dau liwa tiko na cagi mai na tokalau, ratou qai vakasamataka na noqu qase na gauna ya, qo na cega na nodra liku na wati keitou, vinaka cake me tou vaqara tale dua na vanua tou na sega ni rawa ni sotava kina na cagi, oti ra sa qai siro sobu mai va qo, mera sa mai tawani Somosomo. (When the wind would blow from the easterly direction, our forefathers thought, this wind will lift our wive’s skirts, we must look for a place where we will be safe from this strong winds, so they moved to Somosomo.”
While at Somosomo his forefathers then asked the elders if they could continue with their journey and look for another place.
He said a scouting party was then first sent up the mountains, and over the ridges until they arrived at a spring — Naqakiloko. Upon their return they told the elders that they had found a safe and secure place where freshwater was available.
“Sa dredre sara me soli na nodra gole mai, e dredre na veisolisoli, baleta ni lako vata tuga na yavusa. Era sa qai vakadonuya mera gole mai ka sa yaca ni vanua. Era muria tale mai na vanua oya — turaga, marama kei ira na gone, kara yaco mai ki Naqakiloko. Ena levu ni nodra karamaca era mai gunu toka e Naqakiloko, ka oqori na vanua e vu mai kina na yaca ni koro. (At first it was difficult for the elders to allow us to leave them, because we had always been travelling together, but then they allowed and so we parted ways. They arrived at Naqakiloko to quench their thirst, thus the origin of the name of the village Gunu. Gunu means to drink.)”
They make up the Tokatoka Dugulutu, the original settlers of Gunu Village.
“Na gauna era sa mai tiko kina, era sa qai talatala mai na qase vua na nodra italai e dua na tamani lulu levu, me mai raica ira na neimami qase, se era sa vaevei tiko era bulabula vinaka tiko, se dua na ka era gadreva. Ena i talanoa au rogoca na gauna me sa dau vakalutulutu mai kina me voleka mai na koro dau vadugu na vanua. Ka oqo na yavu ni yaca ni neitou tokatoka Dugulutu. E qai dau lesu tale mai dau lai vakaraitaka na veika esa raica mai. (Our elders were always concerned over us, so they would send their messenger to come and check on us. I was told it was a big owl and as it slowly descended to approach the village, the earth would tremble and this would be accompanied by a thunderous roar.)”
Mr Nasau said they were followed by members who made up the Tokatoka Nabebe, who had tracked from Soso on the other side of the island.
The Tokatoka Navuti were last to arrive as they had journeyed from Nalotawa, Ba on mainland Viti Levu.
Over the years, there have been numerous intermarriages and agreements between the three tokatoka. As a result, the Tokatoka Navuti was given the chiefly title, a position they hold to this day.
