As the state funeral procession for the late former president Ratu Epeli Nailatikau made its way through Tailevu, resident Sainimere Matairavula said the scene revived childhood memories of a leader who was unusually approachable for a chief of his stature — a man who would stop at her home in Cautata to ask for fermented coconut.
Speaking to this newspaper, Ms Matairavula described the simple gestures that, for her family, defined Ratu Epeli’s character. “Passing through Cautata, I’m reminded about how Ratu Epeli would often stop by our home and ask if we had fermented coconut,” she said, recalling a hospitality familiar in rural Fiji but striking when shown by a former head of state. Her comments came as the nation watched the late statesman’s final journey to Bau Island.
The funeral’s passage along the Cautata route also stirred memories of an earlier ceremonial journey. “The last time a prominent figure travelled that route to Bau Island was the late Ratu David Toganivalu in 1987,” Ms Matairavula said, noting she was in Class Two at Cautata District School at the time. The comparison underlined how rare and significant such large-scale send-offs are in the area, linking past and present for multiple generations.
Ms Matairavula stood with her children and grandchildren by the roadside to pay respects as the procession passed, explaining why it was important for the family to be present. “It’s important for my family to sit by the roadside to pay their respects,” she said, adding that joining the community was a way to honour a leader who made personal connections with ordinary people.
The Matairavulas also shared a more personal connection to Ratu Epeli: Ms Matairavula’s husband, Asaeli Matairavula, worked as a caddy for Ratu Epeli during his golf games at Vatuwaqa. That link, she said, provided the family with closer encounters and reinforced their impression of his humility. “He was a humble chief who connected easily with us ordinary people,” she said. “We are deeply saddened by his passing, but he will forever be remembered as a very down-to-earth president and chief who came down to greet his people at our level.”
Her recollections add a human dimension to the official mourning, highlighting how everyday interactions — shared food, a friendly stop on the roadside, a local caddy’s service — shaped public memories of Ratu Epeli. For residents along the procession route, the funeral has been both a public ceremony and a personal moment of farewell, linking decades of community memory to the present-day display of respect.
Ms Matairavula’s testimony underscores how Ratu Epeli’s reputation for approachability resonated beyond political circles: in Tailevu, his visits are remembered not for protocol but for simple kindnesses that made him feel like one of their own.
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