KAVA CEREMONY

Hell, I don’t know what the date is. Don’t care, except to be elated when Obama is sworn in as president. Coming soon… The local village’s overriding spirit guide here is the shark; which they sing to in kava ceremonies. Many people also practice Catholicism; there is Methodist, 7th Day Adventist, and we even saw a mosque in Somosomo. Fiji is known for some of the best diving in the world, known for its colorful soft corals. The water is soooo warm. Tonight we had kava with the boys and elder men. Kava is a root that is dug and pounded into a powder. The men sit in a circle. The kava powder is mixed with water in a big bowl; the men clap 3 times before you drink the kava from a coconut cup. This goes on all night, with guitars and singing (language sounds very much like Hawaiian, lots of vowels, very beautiful). The kava tastes bitter and numbs your tongue! I had 3 cups and that was it. Kava is used in ceremony, to thank the spirits for good fishing, or welcoming someone to the group, or making decisions among the elders. For just about anything they designate. Tonight, an elder stood and thanked and honored John (our host) who has hauled building materials to a neighboring island. In return, a group of boys came over to Taveuni, and are helping repair roofs here at Makaira. Moce, and good night!