Kadavu Province is one of fourteen

provinces of Fiji The Provinces of Fiji, (''"veiyasana" ''(pl.) and ''"yasana"'' (s.) in the Fijian language), are the 14 administrative units into which the country is divided, particularly in relation to the provision of resources and services to the indigenous Fij ...

, and forms part of the Eastern Division, which also includes the provinces of

Lau Lau or LAU may refer to: People * Lau (surname) * Liu (劉/刘), a common Chinese family name transliterated Lau in Cantonese and Hokkien * Lau clan, one of the Saraswat Brahmin clans of Punjab * LAU (musician): Laura Fares Places * Lebane ...

, Lomaiviti and Rotuma. Kadavu also belongs to the Burebasaga Confederacy, a hierarchy of chiefs from southern and western Fiji with Roko Tui Dreketi of Rewa as the paramount chief. It consists of

Kadavu Island Kadavu (pronounced ), with an area of , is the fourth largest island in Fiji, and the largest island in the ''Kadavu Group'', a volcanic archipelago consisting of Kadavu, Ono, Galoa and a number of smaller islands in the Great Astrolabe Reef. It ...

, Ono Island,

Galoa Island Galoa is an island of the Kadavu Group of Fiji. It is located in the south of Kadavu and can be reached only by boat. Kadavu Group Islands of Fiji {{fiji-geo-stub ...

, Dravuni Island, Matanuku Island, Buliya Island, Nagigia Island, and a few other islands. Kadavu has a total land area of 408 square kilometers, with a population of 10,897 at the most recent

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...

in 2017, making it the fourth least populous province. The Kadavu group is volcanic in nature, the main island being Kadavu, which is 93 km long and varies in width from several hundred metres to 13 km, All its coasts are deeply indented, some bays biting so far into the land that they almost divide the island. One geographer has suggested that the shape of Kadavu resembles that of a wasp, with the head, thorax and abdomen linked by narrow waists. Thus Vunisea (the administrative center), Namalata Bay and Galoa Harbor are separated by only a sandy isthmus standing a few meters above sea level; and at Vunisei the heads of Daku Bay and Soso Bay are within 1100 meters of each other, with only a low ridge between. The province is divided into nine (districts), each with its own paramount chief and chiefly villages. The are Tavuki (Tavuki), Naceva (Soso), Nabukelevu (Daviqele), Nakasaleka (Nakoronawa), Sanima (Drue), Yale (Rakiraki), Yawe (Nalotu), Ono (Vabea) and Ravitaki (Ravitaki). Each high chief is a member of the Kadavu Provincial Council. There are 75 villages in the province of Kadavu. The Kadavu dialects are almost as numerous as the but with tiny variations between dialects. The Kadavu dialects are closer to the Rewa dialect in Ono and then closer to the Beqa, Serua and Vatulele dialect in the main island with more similarities with the Nadroga, Naitasiri and Ba dialects as one move towards the south of the island. This could all indicate the origin of the inhabitants to an extent. Kadavu is also the home of the second-largest living organism on Earth, the

Great Astrolabe Reef The Great Astrolabe Reef is in Fiji and surrounds the fourth largest island, Kadavu Island, which is approximately 65 km in length. Kadavu Island is approximately 100 km south of Viti Levu, the main island of Fiji. The Great Astrolabe ...

, which lies along the southern side of the island and stretches from the northern part of the island, Ono island, to the southern tip of Kadavu Island, Muanasika Point near Nasau village. The edges of this reef are indicated by two lighthouses: the Solo Light House near Ono Island, and the Washington Lighthouse close to Nagigia Island. There is no town on the island but Vunisea is where all the government headquarters are, with one high school (boarding school), a primary school, police station, hospital, airstrip and at least five supermarkets. However, there are also two main other government stations apart from Vunisea: Kavala and Daviqele.

Noteworthy Kadavuans

* Akalaini Baravilala - first Fijian woman to play for

World Rugby Women's Sevens Series The World Rugby Women's Sevens Series, is a series of international rugby sevens tournaments for women's national teams run by World Rugby. The inaugural series was held in 2012–13 as the successor to the IRB Women's Sevens Challenge Cup held ...

USA Women's Sevens team and also represented USA at Rio Olympics, 2016. * Bulou Akanisi Koroitamana - Former politician, wife of Ratu Jone Koroitamana *

Akuila Yabaki Akuila Yabaki is a Fijian human rights activist and Methodist Church, Methodist clergyman. He is currently the Executive Director of the Citizens Constitutional Forum (Fiji), Citizens Constitutional Forum, a pro-democracy organization. Yabaki w ...

Fiji Fiji ( , ,; fj, Viti, ; Fiji Hindi: फ़िजी, ''Fijī''), officially the Republic of Fiji, is an island country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies about north-northeast of New Zealand. Fiji consists ...

human rights Human rights are Morality, moral principles or Social norm, normsJames Nickel, with assistance from Thomas Pogge, M.B.E. Smith, and Leif Wenar, 13 December 2013, Stanford Encyclopedia of PhilosophyHuman Rights Retrieved 14 August 2014 for ce ...

activist and

Methodist Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related denominations of Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's b ...

clergyman * Alexander O' Connor - Politician, Current MP * Alexander Sauvolitanakadavu Soqosoqo - Former sprint king, Actor, Soldier *

Apaitia Seru Apaitia Seru is a Fijian lawyer and former politician and judge, who served briefly as Attorney General of Fiji in 1992. He was also a member of the House of Representatives from 1992 to 1994. He held the Kadavu Fijian Communal Constituency for th ...

- former

Attorney General In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general or attorney-general (sometimes abbreviated AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. The plural is attorneys general. In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have exec ...

, Minister for Justice and Chief Magistrate * Apakuki CokanaKadavu - Songwriter, Musician * Ana Naisoro - Fiji Police Force spokesperson * Dee Uluirewa - singer Hillsong Australia, (Sister of Dr. Tim Uluirewa) * Edward Soro - VOU Performance Manager/Coordinator * Elenoa Sailosi - Former sprint queen, one of the most endearing athletes of Fiji * Dr Epeli Nailatikau - Medical Doctor, father of Merewalesi Nailatikau * Epeli Vakatawa - TV personality and host * Emosi Mulevoro -

IRB Sevens The World Rugby Men's Sevens Series is an annual series of international rugby sevens tournaments run by World Rugby featuring national sevens teams. Organised for the first time in the 1999–2000 season as the IRB World Sevens Series, the com ...

Rugby player * Fenton Lutunatabua -Former TV host, Environmentalist, Pacific Climate Warrior Coordinator *Helena Young - Fastest teenager in the South Pacific-Upcoming Sprint queen (Best Female Athlete, Coca - Cola games, 2018) * Rev. Inoke Nabulivou - Past President of the

Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma The Methodism, Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma is the largest Christian denomination in Fiji, with 36.2 percent of the total population (including 66.6 percent of Fijians, indigenous Fijians) at the 1996 census. Of the 280,628 persons identi ...

* Sir James Ah-Koy -

KBE KBE may refer to: * Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, post-nominal letters * Knowledge-based engineering Knowledge-based engineering (KBE) is the application of knowledge-based systems technology to the domain o ...

an businessman, politician, and diplomat *

James Bolabiu James Bolabiu (born 25 May 1983 in Suva, Fiji) is a Fijian international rugby union referee and Fiji's most experienced referee. He was an assistant referee at the 2008 Tri Nations Series matches between and in Sydney and Auckland. He also offi ...

- first Fijian and First Pacific Islander to officiate international rugby sevens matches and

's most experienced referee. *

Jesoni Vitusagavulu Jesoni Vitusagavulu is a Fijian businessman and diplomat, who was appointed as Fiji's fifth Fijian Ambassador to the United States on 26 May 2005, succeeding Anare Jale. He is also accredited as Ambassador to Cuba and Mexico, and High Commission ...

- Former CEO, Former Ambassador to the United States, Cuba, Mexico and High commissioner to China *

Jerry Yanuyanutawa Jerry Yanuyanutawa (born 10 April 1985 in Suva, Fiji) is a Fijian former international rugby union player who played at Prop. He formerly played for Glasgow Warriors. Rugby Union career Amateur career Yanuyanutawa began his rugby union career ...

- 15's rugby player, plays in the UK * John O' Connor - CEO Fiji Rugby Union, Former CEO National Fire Authority * John Seru - Actor and former Australian professional wrestler. He is best known as "Vulcan" in the Australian version of TV series Gladiators * Ratu Jone Naivaluvea Misikini - Supervising Magistrate * Josefa Lilidamu - Rugby player ( Japan.) *

Kaliopate Tavola Kaliopate Tavola (born 1946) is a Fijian Agricultural economist, diplomat, and politician, who was his country's Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2000 to 2006. He was also Minister for External Trade and Minister for Sugar. Diplomatic caree ...

- Former Minister for Foreign Affairs -

Agricultural economist Agricultural economics is an applied field of economics concerned with the application of economic theory in optimizing the production and distribution of food and fiber products. Agricultural economics began as a branch of economics that specif ...

diplomat A diplomat (from grc, δίπλωμα; romanized ''diploma'') is a person appointed by a state or an intergovernmental institution such as the United Nations or the European Union to conduct diplomacy with one or more other states or internati ...

, and

politician A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking, a ...

, who was his country's

Minister for Foreign Affairs A foreign affairs minister or minister of foreign affairs (less commonly minister for foreign affairs) is generally a cabinet minister in charge of a state's foreign policy and relations. The formal title of the top official varies between coun ...

from 2000 to 2006 *

Konisi Yabaki Konisi Tabu Yabaki was a Fijian politician from the southern Kadavu Island. He served in the Cabinet from 2000 to 2006, but lost his portfolios as Minister for Fisheries and Forests after the parliamentary election of 6–13 May 2006. He was sub ...

- Former Fijian politician * Lenora Qereqeretabua - first daughter and mother to be crowned Miss Hibiscus. Longest serving TV personality in Fiji (20 yrs), former Hibiscus queen and one of the Pacific's most recognisable face. Fiji's favourite MC * Leone Lesianawai - first Fijian to act in a TV series, "Adventures of the Seaspray." Fiji's most famous policeman with the Fijian "bui ni ga" *

Leone Nakarawa Lieutenant Leone Nakarawa (born 2 April 1988) is a Fijian rugby union, rugby union footballer and Olympic gold medalist. He plays as a Lock (rugby union), Second-Row forward for RC Toulonnais, Toulon and represents the Fiji national rugby union ...

- first Fijian and first Pacific Islander to win the " European Player of the Year" Award & the Anthony Foley Trophy, 2018. "Gold medallist at

Rio Olympics ) , nations = 207 (including IOA and EOR teams) , athletes = 11,238 , events = 306 in 28 sports (41 disciplines) , opening = 5 August 2016 , closing = 21 August 2016 , opened_by = Vice President Michel Temer , cauldron = Vanderlei Cordeiro d ...

2016",''Known world wide as "Offloader King". Fiji's most versatile talent, & no 1 rugby superstar. * Lingo Reece - Castaway Island Duty Manager for more than 26 years. * Litia Daveta AKA Esther King - One of Fiji's most famous gospel singer. *

Lynda Tabuya Lynda Diseru Tabuya (born 1972) is a Fijian politician and lawyer who has served as the Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation since 24 December 2022. And President Of Kadavu Rugby Union since 14 December 2023 Early life Tabuya g ...

- politician, Former Miss Hiscus, Former Lecturer. *Dr Manoa Masi - first Fijian dentist, one of the core influences behind the prominence of the Kadavu Choir *

Manu Korovulavula Ratu Manunivavalagi Korovulavula, OF (born 22 June 1934 in Suva), is a Fijian political leader and civil servant. A former Senator, Korovulavula was appointed Minister for Transport in the interim Cabinet of Commodore Frank Bainimarama on 8 Janu ...

- first father and son in Fiji and the Pacific to fight together in a war. Fijian political leader and civil servant. War veteran of the

Malayan Campaign The Malayan campaign, referred to by Japanese sources as the , was a military campaign fought by Allied and Axis forces in Malaya, from 8 December 1941 – 15 February 1942 during the Second World War. It was dominated by land battles between ...

. Also a writer, composer, and singer. * Merewalesi Nailatikau - first Fijian and first Melanesian woman to win the South Pacific Pageant. Was a recipient of a Sylff fellowship, was appointed

UNICEF UNICEF (), originally called the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund in full, now officially United Nations Children's Fund, is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing Humanitarianism, humanitarian and Devel ...

ambassador for the Pacific Island countries. Former TV personality. Former Miss Hibscus queen. * Mosese Tikoitoga - Ambassador, Former RFMF Commander * Mosese Sorovi - Fiji's Former Heavyweight Boxing Champion *

Niko Verekauta Niko Verekauta (born February 16, 1987, in Kadavu Island, Kadavu) is a Fiji, Fiji Islands Sprint (running), sprinter. Biography He represented Fiji in the Athletics at the 2006 Commonwealth Games - Men's 400 metres, 400m sprint at 2006 Commonw ...

- Pacific Games Former 400 meters specialist & champion *

Nina Nawalowalo Nina Nawalowalo is a New Zealand theatre director and co-founder of the contemporary Pacific theatre company The Conch. She is known for directing the stage plays ''Vula'' and ''The White Guitar.'' The first film she directed ''A Boy Called Pi ...

- first female Melanesian theatre director in the world. Daughter of Ratu Noa Nawalowalo. * Ratu Noa Nawalowalo - first Fijian-born barrister to graduate from Victoria University and first Fijian to set up a law firm in NZ. * Rachel Ah Koy - Former Swimming National record holder & champion, granddaughter of Sir James Ah Koy * Radike Qereqeretabua - Long time Hotelier/Manager, father of Lenora Qereqeretabua * Ratu Josateki Nawalowalo - was a

chief Chief may refer to: Title or rank Military and law enforcement * Chief master sergeant, the ninth, and highest, enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force * Chief of police, the head of a police department * Chief of the boa ...

, businessman, and chairman- Kadavu Provincial Council. * Ratu Veremalua Vugakoto - Flying Fijians (15's) member, (2019). * Richard Tanumi - Australian born - Musician, Actor, Singer, Model, Dancer *Rob Valetini - Wallabies team member - (July 2019). First-Youngest Fijian schoolboy to be drafted into a rugby club

Brumbies The ACT Brumbies (known from 2005–2022 as simply the Brumbies) is an Australian professional rugby union team based in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory (ACT), The team competes in Super Rugby and named for the brumby, feral horses whi ...

at age 16. * Roy Ravana - sports personality, was one of Fiji's star athlete. * Ratu Seci Nawalowalo- former Member of Parliament * Ratu Sela Nanovo - Former Fijian Senator, named by the Great Council of Chiefs * Dr. Sitiveni Ratuva - Professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology and director of the MacMillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies at the

University of Canterbury The University of Canterbury ( mi, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha; postnominal abbreviation ''Cantuar.'' or ''Cant.'' for ''Cantuariensis'', the Latin name for Canterbury) is a public research university based in Christchurch, New Zealand. It was ...

, New Zealand. * Dr Tim. Uluirewa - first Fijian to attain a PhD degree in music. Former pastor, songwriter, and worship leader. *Saiyasi Fuli - first coach ever to successfully lead a women's team to Olympic glory. The Fijiana 7s team made history by winning bronze at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Fuli is the current acting coach for the men's 7s team. *Sakeasi Nawaikama Waqanivavalagi, former Fijian politician, served as a minister in Ratu Kamisese Mara's cabinet, worked for the Order Of St John for 42 years and was its chairman, founding father of Fiji's National Provident Fund, a government minister, chairman of the Fiji Visitors Bureau and chairman of the Public Service Commission. * Sera Tikotikovatu - first Fijian actress to act in an international TV series. Former Miss Hibiscus queen. She starred as Kirra in '' Pirate Islands: The Lost Treasure of Fiji''. *

Sevu Reece Sevuloni Lasei Reece (born 13 February 1997) is a rugby union player who currently plays as a wing for the Crusaders in Super Rugby and in the Bunnings NPC. Born in Fiji, he moved to New Zealand in 2014. He made his debut for the New Zealand na ...

All Blacks The New Zealand national rugby union team, commonly known as the All Blacks ( mi, Ōpango), represents New Zealand in men's international rugby union, which is considered the country's national sport. The team won the Rugby World Cup in 1987 ...

Member - July 2019, '

Super Rugby Super Rugby is a men's professional rugby union club competition involving teams from Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. It previously included teams from Argentina, Japan, and South Africa. Building on various Southern Hem ...

2019 Top try scorer', '

Crusaders The Crusades were a series of religious wars initiated, supported, and sometimes directed by the Latin Church in the medieval period. The best known of these Crusades are those to the Holy Land in the period between 1095 and 1291 that were in ...

Rookie of the year 2019.' *

Sireli Naqelevuki Sireli Masibalavu Naqelevuki (born 30 September 1980, in Suva, Fiji) plays as a Prop (rugby union), prop in rugby sevens but in traditional 15s he is a Rugby union/wing, wing or Rugby union/centre, centre. He made his rugby sevens debut in 2002 ...

- first Fijian and first South Pacific Islander to be contracted to a South African franchise team,

Stormers The Stormers (known for sponsorship reasons as the DHL Stormers) is a South African professional rugby union team based in Cape Town in the Western Cape that competes in the United Rugby Championship, a trans-hemispheric competition that also ...

. * Solomoni Mara - ambassador to the USA and the UK. * Terio Tamani - Captain of "Gold" medal winning 7's team (SPG -2019), member of Fiji 7's team. * Vilisoni Rarasea - Sports personality, one of Fiji's star athletes, brother of Elenoa Sailosi. * Vilimoni Vaganalau Labailagi - Butler to many of Fiji's Governor Generals, PM's and Presidents. Fiji's longest serving civil servant of more than 50 years. * Waisea Vatuwaqa - musician and songwriter *Grace Marie Baro - athlete Coca - Cola games 2019 * Malakai Waqanokonoko - developed plant maintenance studies at Fiji National University * Ratu Majia Bainivalu - Turaga na Vunisalevu na Tui Naceva and Respected member of the Boselevu Vakaturaga * Eremasi Vuki- Vatukoula Gold Mine Geology Sampler * William Tabuya - former TV personality

References

* Sofer, Michael (2009) Twenty Years of Change in the Fijian Periphery: The Case of the Kadavu Island, Fiji, Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography, Vol. 30, pp. 343–357. * Sofer, Michael (2015) Kadavu Island: Adaptation and stagnation in the Fijian periphery, Miscellanea Geographica: Regional Studies on Development, Vol. 19(2), pp. 14–20. ;Specific {{Coord, 19, 03, S, 178, 15, E, region:FJ-E_type:isle_source:kolossus-dewiki, display=title Provinces of Fiji