Vanua Balavu (pronounced ) is the third largest island in Fiji's Lau Islands archipelago, and the main island of the Northern Lau Group.
Geography and infrastructure
This
coral and
volcano island has a land area of . Its maximum elevation is . The island is characterized by steep undercut cliffs with fertile volcanic soil. It is well watered and has hot springs. There is an extensive
reef system, including the islets of
Qilaqila also known as the Bay of Islands. The traditional owners of Qilaqila are the
iTaukei, the mataqalis' from Mavana Village. All visitors to Qilaqila must do
sevusevu and have received permission from the village elders of Daliconi Village to visit.
The main village on the island is Lomaloma. Vanua Balavu has an airstrip, a post office in Lomaloma copra port, and a small hospital.
There was also the Lomaloma Copra Biofuel Project which provided power to three villages, Naqara, Sawana and Lomaloma. However, it is now defunct.
Points of interest
A large
sea cave, named Qaranilaca, on the southeastern tip of Vanua Balavu was excavated in 2000 and shown to have been used by humans more than 10 centuries ago.
Notable people
A notable person from Vanua Balavu is
Laisenia Qarase, Fiji's Prime Minister from 2000 to 2006, who hails from the village of Mavana. Other prominent Vanua Balavu natives are the academic leader Esther Williams, from
Levukana village, former Attorney-General
Qoriniasi Bale, from
Levukana village, and prominent former politician
Filipe Bole, also from Mualevu village. Charles Walker, a former politician and Fiji diplomat hails from
Sawana village with Lavinia Wainiqolo Padarath, a staunch trade unionist and former politician. Walker served as a Minister for Women and Social Welfare under the Fiji Labour Party election win in 1999.
Mere Samisoni, businesswoman and politician, comes from the village of Lomaloma, as does the former Lami Mayor Tevita Vuatalevu, who hails from the village of Mavana. Current Flying Fijians Josh Matavesi and Sam Matavesi who were born and raised in Cornwall, England are also natives of Vanua Balavu through their paternal line.
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Fiji, By Korina Miller, Robyn Jones, Leonardo Pinheiro, Published by Lonely Planet - Page 237
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