Tui Ono Bemoans Isolation

Fiji Sun News - 9 July 2010

The isolation of the islands of Ono-i-Lau in the Lau group will continue to be limiting factor for its people.

These were the words of the Tui Ono, Asaeli Tawawili commenting on their 20-year development plan.

He said the location of the islands will delay works on a number of projects. 

"The isolation of the islands will continue to be a limiting factor, in terms of transport costs and the availability of raw materials, in the implementation of projects on the islands, which will impact the timely completion of projects," Mr Tawawili said. 

Mr Tawawili said his people are to strive to find ways for new economic opportunities for those on the islands to address the drift of the tikina's population from the islands to urban centres. 

"We should be proud of being an Ono-i-Lauan and should protect our identity, language, culture, tradition and values.

Leadership at all levels of the community is vital for advice and directing the people towards unity in the development of the islands," he added.

Ono-i-Lau to Remain in Fiji
Fiji Sun News - 9 July 2010
The people of Ono-i-Lau in the Lau Group will never move to Tonga as initially suggested, district advisor Anare Jale said. 

“We have no plans of moving,” Mr Jale said. 

In 2008, a faction of the people of Ono-i-Lau suggested that Ono-i-Lau breaks away and joins Tonga. 

Mr Jale said that will never happen. 

“Our culture and tradition may be the same as the Tongans but we remain as Fijians and we will continue to do so,” he said. 

Ono-i-Lau is the farthest island in the Lau Group and is located close to Tongatapu in the Kingdom of Tonga. It was for this reason that the people of Ono-i-Lau chose to sail to Tonga to do their shopping before the enforcement of maritime borders.

As they launch their Development Plan at the two-day celebration that came to a close in Valelevu on Saturday, part of it was to promote the Ono culture and spirit of community and unity among all the people of Ono. 

The celebration will now become an annual event, says r Jale, who is the chairman of the Ono-i-Lau Development Plan Committee.

Ono-i-Lau folks keen on culture


Fiji Sun News - 8 July 2010

A property worth $250,000 will be bought by the people of Ono-i-Lau to be their headquarter in Suva.

The fundraising to collect money for the headquarter was done in a two-day Ono-i-Lau Day at the Valelevu grounds in Nasinu last week.

Their development committee chairman Anare Jale said the facility would also be used as a business entity.

“It will be used as our meeting place for women, youths and so forth. We have $50,000 already with us and we set our target of achieving $200,000 from this fundraising,” Mr Jale said.

This is part of their development plans as they try to promote the Ono culture and spirit of community and unity among all Ono-i-Lauans by 2012.

Mr Jale said they wished to sustain the integrity of Ono-i-Lau culture and traditions and to effectively promote interest among their youths in regard to the preservation of their heritage by 2020.

“Youths are taught to perform the meke and all traditional dances, especially those living on the main land because we do not want the erosion of culture,” he said.

Yesterday's event saw entertainments provided by youths of all the villages of Ono-i-Lau who are living on Viti Levu.

Foods used during the event were shipped from the island.

The fundraising was opened by those living in Australia and the United States of America.

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