Page 4 - Fiji Traveller 2023 Issue 5

October/Okotova:
Vula i Balolo Lailai
Coastal communities (apart from those on Viti Levu)
will experience the arrival of balolo (edible sea worms), a
Fijian delicacy. The balolo rises in the morning and usually
disappears by 8am.
Cagolaya, a preventive herbal medicine that has
tormented Fijian children for generations and is used
for coughs and colds, matures —as does breadfruit and
watermelons. Pea (avocado) should be fruiting madly
and for the next two months, kavika (Malay apple) will be
plentiful. The deciduous tavola (Polynesian almond) is
putting out fresh new leaves.
It is time to plant dalo, kawai and via kana. Daiga and
mokosoi, flowers used for their fragrance—either behind
one’s ear or infused in Fijian body oil—will also be showing
off both their beauty and scents.
Dilio (migratory birds) continue to arrive in Fiji this month.

November/Noveba:
Vula i Balolo Levu
Watch out for the second, mass appearance of the
balolo in November. Pineapple, mango, dawa, vutu and
kavika are in season. Tivoli (part of the yam family) is
ready for digging. Misimisi, a scented plant, is ripe and
bananas are plentiful.
Qari (mud crabs) are ‘full’ (of spawn) and there is an
abundance of walu (Spanish Mackerel).
November is also the beginning of the hurricane
season, which lasts until March/April.

December/Tiseba:
Vula i Nuqa Lailai
In December, early yams like the vurai can be harvested
or planted, as can uto (breadfruit), which complements
mango, kavika, dawa and painapiu (pineapple). The
flamboyant red flowers of the sekoula trees signify the
arrival of Christmas. Other timber trees like the buabua,
kuasi and the nuqanuqa mean village home extensions
can be done before Christmas.
In the sea, smaller schools of nuqa (rabbitfish) are
plentiful. Saqa (trevally) are spawning. Bulubulu (young
sharks) are now born, swimming close to shore. Lairo (land
crabs) enrich our meals. If you are lucky, the delicacy balolo Illustrations: Albert Rolls
may rise. We must also be mindful that it is the spawning
season for walu and saqa.

The Fijian calendar is based on planting and fishing seasons, and is divided into 11 months rather than 12. 'Vula' means
'moon', and is also the Fijan word for ‘month’.

With thanks to Tokani: Friends of the Fiji Museum.

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