Fulaga Island in the Lau Group is awash with excitement as the Camakau Race is underway, marking the return of the cherished cultural tradition after a 20-year hiatus.
Representatives from Naividamu, Muanaicake and Muanaira Villages are competing with canoes meticulously prepared over weeks, drawing on ancestral knowledge passed down by elders and reaffirming the strong cultural ties between the people, the land and the sea.
Jimione Ledua of Naividamu Village says their canoe was carved from a Makota tree that had already fallen due to strong winds.
Ledua explained that village elders advised that the tree would be easier to carve and help the canoe float better, as it had begun to wither after lying on the ground for some time.
From Muanaicake Village, Epeli Moto extended an invitation to villagers living abroad and in Viti Levu to return home and reconnect with their heritage.
Moto says the elders are happy with their progress and are fully supporting them, by making a flag and preparing everything for the race.
Meanwhile, Semi Vanua of Muanaira Village says their team ventured into the forest to cut a Selavu tree for their canoe, completing the build in just three weeks.
He shared a well-known saying from Fulaga’s elders: 'The boat is not slow, only the person is'.
He says this highlights the importance of skill over speed.
The Camakau Race, deeply rooted in Fulaga’s cultural identity, celebrates traditional canoe-building skills, seamanship and communal cooperation.
Its return has been welcomed with enthusiasm across the island, uniting generations and reaffirming pride in Fulaga’s maritime heritage.
