The last leg- Uto Ni Yalo

Dearest Athaliah,

This is my final journal for the Uto Ni Yalo. After Kubulau Bua, we sailed to Makogai. A beautiful island with crystal clear blue waters. The island is undoubtedly amazing but because of it history "Fiji's Leprosy Hospital" only few people live there. As soon as we berthed, all the crew members went either snorkeling, paddle boarding or swimming. I tried a bit of all. While snorkeling, I saw huge giant clams on the seabed. It was the one of the most amazing things I got to witness in this voyage.

Pic: Taking a selfie before a swim. The island behind is Makogai

The next day we left for Leleuvia Island Resort to give the beautiful Vaka the rest she deserves before having to sailing to Lau the following week. Throughout the entire journey, Dwain reminded the crew, "The VAKA chooses you and it is predestined". I truly believe that and I am grateful for this experience. My dearest Athaliah, I am dedicating this piece to you because I believe in you. I believe you will grow up and be the change this world needs.

I love you Athaliah
Uncle Abel

Kubulau, Bua Journal

Dear Athaliah,

From the Koro seas we sailed to Kubulau in Bua. It took us about 8 hours of voyage.The people were so hospitable, garlanding us and treating the crew to a delicious mouth watering dish of Vakasoso(Fijian Dessert). I was asked by my mentor to deliver a talk around mental health to the villagers. It was hard for me because of the traditional barriers that limits a young person from sharing openly. It was a challenge for me but once I mastered the courage,I managed to share about mental health and linked it to environment.

Pic: Students and staff of Kubulau District School

The next day we visited Kubulau District school donating story books,clothes and footwear. I was touched by the smiles of the students and how much they appreciated our work. The students performed a gospel number for us and their beautiful smiles and singing voices is still etched in my mind.

Pic: Students of Kubulau District pledging to protect the Vatu-i-ra seascape

After the school visitation, we did a beach cleanup around the coastline just like we did at Koro. We had to pickup rubbish then later separated it into its various categories.So the bottles were put in a sack, plastics in another...etc.

Pic: Peace Corp Volunteer Thea in action during the beach cleanup.

As I see all these piles of rubbish, I am reminded by what I challenged the villagers. It is all about changing the mindset. Our mental health makes the choices for us. If we are able to change our thinking and reflect it in our actions such as not littering, we are going a long way to secure the future that I have always hoped for you Athaliah.
I am doing all this for you Athaliah
For your future.

Much Love
Uncle Abel

Koro Island Journal

Dear Athaliah,

We set sailed on Sunday and reached Nabosivi Village, in Koro Island around 3pm. I am not gonna lie, I got seasick the first few hours. I wasn't able to finish my first shift  which was to watch the canoe as it sails. One thing I am truly thankful about for this trip is the crew.  My team leader for Team Cracker Areki, kept telling me to "KEEP FIGHTING". With just those two words of encouragement from my team leader helped me and sooner then I knew, I was no longer seasick. It got me thinking, what a smile or a small word of encouragement and good wishes could do to brighten someone else's day.

Picture: Areki (wearing  red life lifejacket) with the othe crew of Uto Ni Yalo

Picture Source: The Uto ni Yalo (fb)

We spent two days in Koro Island. We held talanoa discussion, school visitation and a tour for the villagers on board the Uto Ni Yalo. I also met a Peace Corp Volunteer Thea. After pulling few strings here and there, we managed to get her to join us as a crew for the remaining journey. For me personally, my highlight for Koro would be visiting the school with mentor Lionel Rogers.The students have memories of Cyclone Winston etched in their head as if the cyclone just passed yesterday.  I learnt so much from Lionel in terms of mental health and linking it not only to environment but to every aspect of our lives. He spoke from the heart and touched deeply into Love and Respect that is slowly fading away. This is so true my darling Athaliah. Remember that love surpasses everything. With love in our hearts, we can truly be united and overcome any obstacles life throws at us. "UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL"

Pic: Lionel running a mental health session with students in Koro.

Much Love
Uncle Abel

Journal Day 2

Dear Athaliah❤
It is just day 2 and I am already starting to give up. I had to endure 3hours in heavy rain on board the Uto Ni Yalo. I found out today I am the youngest crew on board. This blog my little princess is not about me though. It's about Manasa, a young deaf crew member that has been sailing on board the canoe since 2012. He has sailed as far as Vanuatu, Solomon and Samoa with the Uto. The 28 year old lad doesn't let his condition be a barrier. He learned how to sail just by observing. On days when he is not sailing, he works on Leleuvia Island Resort as a welder. To me this is what a warrior and Champ looks like. Dearest Athaliah, this young man is a testimony that the only limitations in life is yourself. If he can conquer the waves and barriers in life so can we.

Pic: Manasa who has been sailing since 2012

I love you Athaliah.
Uncle Abel

Journal Day 1

Dear Athaliah,

I am dedicating this piece to you as you are the Future. Dear Little Princess, the new bundle of joy for Faye and Joe Searell. I am voyaging on the UTO NI YALO in hopes to share messages of Climate Change, Wildlife Conservation and Mental Health across the Bligh Waters to outer islands such as Koro, Makogai, Ovalau and Kubulau. Ten to twenty years from now, I hope you read my journal and carry on the good fight. I am trying everything in my power to ensure a future for you. Let me rewind back and tell you about my day!

Pic: The Uto Ni Yalo, a Fijian Vaka(canoe)

Today was Day 1 of the trip. I was only informed of the trip the evening before I was to travel. I could never turn down the trip as it is on my never ending list of bucket wishes. How much I looked forward to this trip, I was an hour earlier at the meeting spot where I planned to meet my mentor. There are two of us representing the Youth Champs for Mental Health on-board the UTO NI YALO. For us, this trip is all about hope and resilience building on awareness through education and advocacy on mental health and linking it with marine conservation and climate change impact on health and well-being.

Pic: Epeli(wearing glasses) represnting Youth Champs, Akeneta (in pink) one of the sailers and Lionel Rogers (in blue) Youth Champs for Mental Health Co-ordinator.

The trip started off from Wildlife Conservation Society Office, then to Bau Landing where we boarded a boat to Leleuvia Island Resort. We had to make our way to Leleuvia as the Uto-Ni Yalo was berthed there. On the way to Leleuvia we came across an island that struck me. It was a small island included in the groups of Bau Island. This small island serves a very important part of Fiji’s tradition and history. Before when ancestors passed this small island to go to Bau Island, the chiefs are to get off and to take off their title. Say for example if the Tui Cakaudrove has to go through these waters to go to Bau Island, he has to get off this small island “take off his title” through means of traditional ceremony. So that means, the chiefs enter Bau without a title and they are no longer chiefs. Only the high chief of Bau doesn’t have to perform this. This is how sacred Bau Island is.

Pic: The small island which the chiefs have to take off their titles before entering Bau Island. 

We are now on Leleuvia Island Resort. We will be on this island for another day before we set sail across the Bligh waters on Sunday Morning. This Island Resort in my opinion is paving the way for most tourism industry in terms of climate action. On this Island Plastic Bags are not allowed. If you go around the Island, I can assure you there will be no plastics on the beach or anywhere else. Nearly the entire island resort is powered by Solar panels.  They are definitely going green and environment friendly.

Pic: This sign board is on Leleuvia Beach as you get off the jetty. It is simply reminding visitors that plastic bags are banned on the island.

The island resort also preserves and promotes the Fijian Culture and this is evident as all houses are bures and the lifestyle here is showcased in the most Fijian way possible. They even have an art gallery that exhibits paintings and clay pots done by the locals.  During the day we also managed to check out the Uto Ni Yalo that was berth at least 300 metres off shore. We were taught how to tie knots and how to survive on board the Fijian Vaka. Today has taught me to value the richness of our tradition and culture. We must go back to the roots as the roots usually have the solution to our problems and could definitely help us mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Pic: Learning how to tie the knots on board the Uto Ni Yalo.

We ended the day snorkelling. We were looking at the healthy marine life that the Island has, just because they look after it properly. The banning of plastic bags on the island has made a huge different and I hope that as Fiji implements this new 10 cents  levy on plastic bag they could look past those narrow vision and think about the environment. When I usually go on Facebook, I see people disagreeing to this policy. They say they are being robbed daylight. I understand where they are coming from but I hope they understand that this little policy is an investment into your future Athaliah. I have learnt some much Athaliah in just one day. I am doing this for you. I will keep fighting for you Athaliah!

Much Love
Uncle Abel