It took about six weeks, with sometimes over 100 men from the villages in the area working together, all fed breakfast, lunch and dinner by the ladies in the village, but finally by mid-July, Navatusila’s Vale ni Vanua was complete – and looking magnificent!

The craftsmanship involved is amazing. Armed with few tools, but with the knowledge of a master builder from Savakarua, advised by other elders, local materials and plenty of manpower, the building rose from the ground astonishingly quickly. And now, sitting proudly in Nubutautau, the district of Navatusila have an inspiring place to meet together, settle disputes, welcome guests and share kava.

More so, they’ve come together to achieve something monumental as a community which is all too rare in the modern world.

The raised stone path leading to the chiefly door of the Vale ni Vanua in Nubutautau