kava
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Nakida village gets on-site kava processing equipment to strengthen local value chain
Nakida Village now has a kava pounding machine and packshed gear, a move officials say will bring processing closer to home and cut long trips to urban centers. The upgrade is expected to boost local livelihoods, reduce reliance on middlemen, and speed farmers from harvest to market.
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CDC: U.S. kava exposures rise to 203 in 2025 as kratom co-use drives severe outcomes
New CDC findings reveal a surge in kava-related exposures in the U.S., with co-use of kratom linked to more serious health outcomes. The report contrasts traditional Pacific use with commercial products and raises questions about safety, regulation, and impact on Pacific exporters.
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Kadavu Farmers Help Shape National Kava Bill Draft in New Consultations
Kadavu buzzes with candid feedback as kava growers weigh in on a proposed national Kava Bill. Large village meetings reflect strong views and a push to shape a framework that fits farmers’ realities, markets, and cultural uses.
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Fiji village adopts lawa ni Qoibau restricting women’s kava drinking to restore family discipline
Traditional chiefs in Fiji’s Qoibau vanua unveil a new customary code aimed at restoring family discipline and community order. The lawa ni Qoibau covers drinking, noise, and dress, and includes a controversial measure about women’s grog use—sparking discussion of tradition amid changing norms.