“I love you, my Eta.”
Those were the final words George “Fiji” Veikoso spoke to his daughter Arieta just days before his passing — words she said are now etched in her heart.
Arieta delivered an emotional tribute yesterday at Vodafone Arena in Suva, describing her father as “everything” to the family. “Everything we wanted, he’d provide. I could say that he was great to me and great to all my siblings, and I just want to fulfil his legacy and do everything in my power to make him proud,” she said, her voice softening as she recalled their last conversation.
Arieta and her three siblings were received at the arena by their father’s family in a traditional greeting. Also present at the gathering was a delegation of musicians, friends and relatives who travelled from Hawaii to pay their respects.
Context and latest details
– George “Fiji” Veikoso died on July 24, 2025. The public requiem at Vodafone Arena precedes a family burial in his ancestral village of Buretu, Tailevu, following Fijian custom.
– The public service has been livestreamed to allow fans across the Pacific to join the farewell. Family members including son Shilo and other relatives also delivered eulogies, while national leaders and fellow artists paid tribute to his influence on Pacific music.
– Tributes have highlighted Veikoso’s role as a cultural ambassador whose music blended traditional Fijian sounds with contemporary genres and connected communities across generations.
Why this moment matters
Arieta’s recollection of her father’s last words puts a personal, human face on a widely celebrated public figure. Her promise to fulfil his legacy echoes the broader sentiment at the arena: that Fiji’s music and message of unity will continue to inspire those he mentored and the fans who gathered to honour him.
Suggestions for publication and added value
– Embed the official livestream recording and include time-zone conversions for international readers.
– Add a photo gallery from the Vodafone Arena service and a curated playlist of Veikoso’s most iconic tracks to accompany the story.
– Provide practical details for attendees and viewers: recommended arrival times, seating notes (ground floor reserved for family), procession route along Laucala Bay Road, and parking or road-closure information.
– Include a sidebar with selected tributes from family, national leaders and fellow musicians, and details of planned commemorative events such as Homecoming Festival tributes.
– Add a short explainer on Fijian funeral customs — how a public requiem allows communal mourning before private family burial rites among ancestors.
Hopeful note
While the nation mourns, the outpouring of love at Vodafone Arena and online shows that Veikoso’s songs and the values he taught his children will continue to bring people together and inspire future generations.
Short summary
At Vodafone Arena, daughter Arieta Veikoso shared the final words her father spoke to her — “I love you, my Eta” — as family, friends and musicians gathered to farewell George “Fiji” Veikoso ahead of a burial in his ancestral village.
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