Women from Levukana Village in the Lomaloma District of Vanuabalavu Island gathered in large numbers on the second day of the Vanuabalavu Expo. They displayed their various handicraft skills, featuring woven mats, fans, masi cloth, woven baskets, coconut oil, and woven wall hangings.
Kini Salote Tabaiwalu stood out for her dedication to serving the women of her village and was among the top sellers at the expo. “I have been preparing for this expo since January, collecting all the items I needed to sell,” Mrs Tabaiwalu said. “Most of the items I sold at the expo were made from coconut trees that we have on the island.”
She used the softest part of the coconut tree to weave fans and baskets and extracted oil from coconuts to make scented coconut oil. Mrs Tabaiwalu supports her five children by selling her handicrafts, an art she learned through women’s workshops in Suva and Vanuabalavu. Additionally, she runs a tie-dye business to further support her family.
“I enjoy doing all these because I make use of all the natural resources that are readily available on the island,” she said. “The money I get from selling all these items at the expo will help support my family’s needs.”
The Vanuabalavu Expo concludes today.