ON any given day at the Tailevu Hotel, there is a good chance Tevita Matakitoga Cakacakainiusiladi can be found with a paintbrush in hand, repairing a wall, checking a light fixture or making sure the property is ready for the next guest.
When this newspaper visited the hotel, he was busy in the maintenance shed, carefully painting as part of another day’s work.
It was a simple scene, but one that reflected the commitment of a man who has spent more than a quarter of a century caring for one of Tailevu’s oldest landmarks.
Humble and soft-spoken, Tevita has become a familiar face around the hotel, where he has worked for more than 26 years.
Originally from Udu Village in Totoya, Lau, he now lives in Nakalawaca, Namalata in Tailevu with his family.
For Tevita, the hotel is more than just a workplace it is where he has built his work.
“I’ve been working at Tailevu Hotel for more than 26 years,” he said.
“When I started work, the hotel was owned by Mr Warrick William.”
Remarkably, it is the only place he has ever worked.
“I never worked anywhere else. This has been the only place that I’ve worked,” he said.
As a maintenance staff member, his responsibilities are varied and demanding.
His work involves ensuring the property remains safe, clean and functional through routine inspections, repairs, painting, landscaping and replacing light fixtures.
Much of what he does happens behind the scenes, yet it is essential to keeping the hotel operating smoothly.
Over the years, he has watched the hotel evolve.
In more than two decades on the property, he has carried out countless painting and varnishing jobs, replaced ageing fittings and helped maintain the buildings as they changed with the passing years.
Each repair represents another chapter in the hotel’s history; one he has helped preserve through his steady work.
His long service has also given him the opportunity to meet many people.
“Since working here, I have met and seen many prominent guests who stayed at the hotel or came for a brief visit,” he said.
While visitors have come and gone over the years, Tevita has remained a constant presence quietly ensuring the hotel continues to welcome its guests.
Away from work his greatest motivation is his family.
His wife is from Ra, and together they are raising five children.
Providing for them has always been one of the reasons he has remained dedicated to his work.
“What I earn from work helps a lot in providing things at home, especially for my children’s education as a few of them are in tertiary level,” he said.
“The money earned has also helped a lot in catering for our daily needs at home and with our church.”
Looking ahead, Tevita is optimistic about the future of the district.
He believes the ongoing development of Korovou Town will bring new opportunities, not only for local businesses but also for the hotel that has been his workplace for more than two decades.
“We are grateful for the development taking place in Korovou Town because as it develops, we will get more people coming into town and more will visit the hotel,” he said.
