Fiji Islands Travel Guide | Discover the Islands | Mamanuca Group

Legendary History

Fiji Islands Beginnings: The history of Fiji and her islands, according to mythology, begins about 1500 BC with a voyage of giant war canoes from Taganika north of Egypt. Leading the armada on the giant double hull canoe "Kaunitoni" was warrior Chief Lutunasobasoba assisted by his General Degei. Legend has it that the armada was carrying some special cargo - treasures from the Temple of King Solomon in Judah including a special box called the Katonimana ("Kato" meaning case and "Mana" being magic), which in Fijian literally means the "Box of Blessings".

The armada carried rations, families, warriors and skilled craftsman including Lapita Potterers.

The armada traveled via the Yasawas and as the reefs were treacherous around Vita Levu, they had to keep traveling South West to find a passage to enter the Fiji Waters. This passage was the Momi passage. It was here around Matamanoa, Mana and Likuliku, that the giant outrigger canoe "Kaunitoni" met inclement weather and the “Box of Blessings” slipped off the outrigger canoe. Lutunasobasoba gave orders to let it go, believing it was the will of the gods.

Lutunasobasoba then named the 3 Islands Mata-manoa ("Mata" means eye, "Manoa" means wind), which literally means "eye of the strong wind", the other island "Mana " means magic, to mark the area where the Box of Blessings fell and Likuliku because it was here the armada experienced calm waters again.

The history of Fiji and her islands, according to mythology, begins about 1500 BC with a voyage of giant war canoes from Taganika north of Egypt

The convoy landed at Vuda Point a beach 13km (8 miles) from Nadi airport on the big Island Viti Levu. Lutunasobasoba gave specific instructions that no one was to ever try and retrieve the "Katonimana" that was in the Mamanuca seas. The Gods made their decision clear that it was to remain in the Mamanucas, and anyone who tried to tamper with the box would be cursed. Lutunasobasoba also predicted that this group of islands would be a great source of prosperity for the Fijian people in the future.

Degei returned to the Mamanucas to retrieve the box of blessings but only retrieved a big diamond outside the box. Immediately he was cursed and transformed into a snake with the diamond marked on his head for eternity. For the rest of his life he would crawl on his stomach, and be trapped in an ocean cave in Sawa-i-lau in the Yasawas (visitors can visit this cave today).

The Fijians believe that this box is still buried today in the oceans between Likuliku and Mana guarded by two giant clams. It is this box that they believe has brought great blessings to all the villages in the area and the people who visit the islands. So if you enter the waters around Likuliku, keep an eye out for this special box.