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Rabi Island pronounced (Rambi)
is situated off the north-east coast of Vanua Levu, Fiji’s second
largest island in the Fiji group. The island is near 17o
latitude and sits on the International Date Line at 180o
longitude. Rabi consists of approximately 17,000 rich volcanic
acres and rises to a height of 1,550 feet above sea level. The
island is covered with natural vegetation and an abundance of
coconut trees. Prior to the Banabans settlement on Rabi in 1945
the island was used as a copra plantation by the famous Lever
Brothers group of companies.
Rabi Island is self-governed by
its own elected Council of Leaders and Elders and is a privately
owned community within Fiji itself. The language spoken on the
island is Gilbertese and the customs and traditions of the
Banabans are still practiced today.
The Banabans live in four major
villages on the protected Fiji side of the island. The four
villages and their occupants are the survivors and descendants
from the same four villages that were destroyed by the invading
Japanese forces back on their homeland island of Banaba/Ocean
Island.
VILLAGE
LOCATIONS
Tabwewa is the biggest and most northern village on the
island. The business district, administration buildings, wharf,
post office, court house, main oval, the island's only Guest
House, and the hospital are situated here in this area known as
Nuku.
Uma is the second biggest
village on the island and is situated along the coastal strip
between Tabwewa Village and Tabiang.
Tabiang Village is situated 8 miles from Tabwewa on the
south-west tip of Rabi, and is the site of the island's only High
School and airstrip.
Buakonikai is located
further to the south-east and is the most isolated of the villages
situated 14 miles away from Tabwewa.
Rabi's nearest neighbours are
the small Fiji village called Karoko, and the large garden island
of Fiji called Taveuni. The nearest major town and business
district is Savusavu which also houses a commercial airstrip and
is located approx. 150 kilometres away from Rabi.
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