After more than 20 years, twin sisters Moala Leba and Vika Gavidi have returned to their village of Waitabu in Lakeba, Lau.
Their visit carries deep emotional significance as the sisters reflect on the loss of their two younger siblings and, for Vika, her late husband, Peni Gavidi.
“It’s been so many years, and so much has changed, but one thing that hasn’t is our love for Waitabu,” Ms Leba shared.
The last time the twins visited the island was when they were 49 years old. Now, the return has stirred nostalgic memories of their childhood.
“We have a lot of memories growing up on the island,” Ms Leba said.
Flying in from Australia to join her sister for this long-anticipated trip, Ms Gavidi expressed the significance of their journey.
“This trip has been long anticipated.”
As the eldest of nine siblings, the twins were the first in their family to leave Waitabu, embarking on a path paved by their father’s sacrifices.
“We left the village to attend Ballentine Memorial School,” Ms Gavidi said.
Their father worked tirelessly to ensure his children could access education, a rare privilege at the time.
Through years of harvesting copra and selling beche-de-mer, he paid for their school fees, even arranging for them to travel to school by seaplane — a memory the sisters cherish.
“Every sacrifice he made was for us,” Ms Gavidi reflected.
“Coming back feels like honouring everything he worked so hard for,” she said.
Their return has been eagerly anticipated by relatives and the Waitabu community, who are preparing a warm welcome.
For the twins, the visit goes beyond nostalgia. It is a chance to reconnect with their roots and honour their family’s legacy.
“This trip is about more than just us; it’s about remembering our family, our beginnings.”
“Also, the values our father instilled in us. It’s about healing and celebrating life amidst the loss.”
The sisters departed for Lakeba on Tuesday, marking the start of a deeply meaningful homecoming.
