Fiji had considered the possibility of exporting reeds to Hawaii, as reported by The Fiji Times on October 3, 1977. Reeds, which were plentiful and grew wild across much of Fiji, had the potential to become a lucrative export if a trial shipment to Hawaii proved successful.
Emosi Damuni, a 45-year-old villager from Mokani in Bau, Tailevu, was the driving force behind this initiative. He established a partnership with the French Polynesian Cultural Centre to supply reeds for constructing and repairing traditional island-style bure.
Leo Smith, managing director of Seatrans Fiji Ltd, assured that the company would manage the transportation to ensure the reeds reached Hawaii in excellent condition. The plan included two trial shipments.
Historically, Fijians utilized reeds widely for building thatched bure, creating drying platforms for copra, making fish traps, and other purposes. However, the introduction of modern materials led to a decline in their usage, with wooden and concrete homes replacing traditional structures in most villages. Consequently, the reliance on reeds dwindled, and they became less common, posing a fire hazard as dry stalks could ignite easily.
Damuni stated that the cultural centre urgently needed the reeds to restore several old bure representing Fijian, Tongan, Samoan, and other Pacific island styles. As there were no reeds available in Hawaii, the centre looked to Fiji for the necessary supplies. Damuni confirmed that Fiji could meet this demand.
The anticipated income from the two shipments was around $15,000 in 1977, which would benefit the villagers of Mokani who provided the reeds. Damuni, also the assistant manager of the cultural centre’s orientation, traveled to Fiji to arrange the reed shipment while collecting additional items like mats, coconut fibre sinnet, and other handmade crafts for display in Hawaii.
Despite concerns over the commercialization of Fijian culture, the cultural centre’s goal was to preserve the region’s heritage. For instance, the traditional yaqona ceremony to welcome guests was reserved for high-ranking chiefs or notable leaders, not performed for general visitors to the centre.