On February 21, 2016, Loraini Divadra Biaukula began a heart-wrenching search along the shores of Senivaca Village in Koro, Lomaiviti, for her 10-month-old son, Apisai Vulaono. The aftermath of a devastating tidal wave had swept through the village just a day earlier, altering the course of her family’s life forever. The only remnants left that connected her to her son were a Bible and a baby blanket that she had planned to gift him on his first birthday.
The tragic event occurred during what was supposed to be a joyous occasion, as Apisai was visiting his father’s village for the traditional “kau mat ani gone” ceremonies. Reflecting on that harrowing day, Ms. Biaukula shared, “I keep seeing his face and how he was taking in salt water.” Even a decade later, the grief of losing her son continues to resonate deeply within her.
Amid the devastation, Ms. Biaukula was sheltered in a house with other villagers when the monstrous tidal wave struck. In a desperate act, she handed her baby to his father, unaware that it would be their last moment together. “I kept telling his father ‘qarauni koya. Varaici koya tiko,’” she recalled, emphasizing her concern for her son’s safety. As the water rose, the family fought to stay afloat, but the strong winds caused chaos, making communication nearly impossible.
In a heartbreaking twist, when the water finally receded, and they reached safety, it became painfully evident that neither Apisai nor his grandmother, Makereta Seru, had survived. “They were crying for my son and his grandmother. They both did not make it,” she remembered, underscoring the collective sorrow shared within the community.
Today, Ms. Biaukula, now working at Nadi International Airport, honors her son’s memory by returning to Senivaca every year for a remembrance service held on February 20. The village gathers to hold a church service and place flowers in the ocean in tribute to Apisai and his grandmother, creating a poignant reminder of the love and loss that remains within the hearts of those who remember them.
The annual remembrance not only commemorates the lives lost but also serves as a testament to the strength and resilience of a community that continues to come together in the face of heartbreak, finding solace and support in shared memories and tributes to those they loved.
Leave a comment