As a young boy, I used to swim across the
channel to Yanuca Island with the boys from the village. As we collected
coconuts from the fringes of the hotel’s 9-hole golf course, we would keep a
keen eye out for ‘lost’ golf balls. The boys senior to us would then take these
along to sell back to the golfers during their caddie rounds. The proceeds from
this little ‘business’, (less the caddie’s commission!), would be received with
glee and would cater for our school spending money and, if fortunate enough,
the odd treat at the cinema.
Family history tells that years ago, our
ancestor, the very first Kalevu, landed on a rocky outcrop on the island and
went on to rule the province as its paramount chief with wisdom and foresight.
From that day forward, this revered piece of land became known as ‘Sacred
Point’. It has always stood at the heart of our family and now stands proudly
at the heart of the hotel. In sharing our beautiful island with Shangri-La’s
Fijian Resort & Spa and countless tourists from around the world, we have
secured a future for our extended family and the surrounding communities.
Sharing something that is close to us is
therefore central to the foundations on which Na Hina has been built. Just as
we have a symbiotic relationship with the hotel, we also enter into a
partnership with all who come to stay in any of our Na Hina properties. We do
not just see our tenants as a source of revenue. We go beyond that and do our
utmost to offer a sense of security and comfort … a sense of belonging … a home
away from home.
