The welcome kava ceremony is a nightly offering at Mango Bay Resort where new guests get the chance to sample the local drink – yaqona (pronounced yahng-go-na) which is derived from the pepper root tree. Yaqona, or kava as it is more commonly referred to, is prepared by pounding the root and mixing it with water to produce a brownish, sometimes bitter brew which can then be consumed.

Guests are seated in a semi circle on a hand woven mat with kava being offered to them in a half coconut shell named a bilo (pronounced bee-low).

The kava ceremony is a relaxed social gathering that allows guests to get to know the staff and to learn about their Fijian customs and traditions.

The Fiji Ecotourism Association (FEA) was established 10 years ago but has been non-active at times. There are approximately 60 community managed ecotourism projects to date that include accommodation, tours, National Parks, marine areas, et cetera, around Fiji.

The association has grown from a conservation driven organisation to now helping regional communities develop ecotourism projects and adding value through environmental education, economic contribution, community resource ownership, etc. The major activities are marketing and promoting ecotourism programs, encouraging regional involvement, protecting environmentally sensitive areas, assisting human resource training, etc.

The association also works with some NGOs, the ecotourism unit within the Ministry of Tourism, local marine coastal areas and the USP. Future challenges for the association are monitoring current ecotourism projects, encouraging and supporting future projects.