Sometimes we have to think smart to survive after retiring from work.
Grandmother Ateca Hawea shared her story of how she was coping with daily life at her home at Matanisivaro, Qauia in Lami.
The 57-year-old grandmother is originally from Lakeba, Lau, who are known for their skills in making beautiful salusalu or flower garlands.
In Lau they call it sisi ni Lakeba, but she prefers to call them sisi. “While growing up I used to see people from my island wearing the sisi ni Lakeba at almost every occasion in the village and I wasn’t really interested in making it.
“This suddenly changed after my wedding in 1985 when I met my mother-in-law. She made sisi ni Lakeba very often mostly for occasions.
I used to watch my mother-in-law making garlands the Tongan way.
“It’s an art she had learnt from those before her,” she said. Originally from Nasaqalau Village, Mrs Hawea said she involved herself and sat with her every time she made those sisi ni Lakeba for occasions of all sorts. Her mother-in-law showed her the skills.
“There were obstacles and lessons that life throws at us and when I got my fair share, it was the sisi ni Lakeba that brought me a way to earn a living.”
After moving to Suva, Mrs Hawea said she was employed at Hot Bread Kitchen. After 1996 she worked at the Pearce Home in Suva and later Parliament House until she retired in 2018.
“While working my sideline job was making sisi and from that time a lot of people got to know me for it.
“I got a good response and have made garlands for many occasions,” she said.
The grandmother of 12 said the lockdown brought in more difficulties in managing her small business as she didn’t receive any orders for sisi. Most of her orders came from families and former workmates and even from overseas.
However, luck returned with the grace of God a month ago when orders started pouring in.
Mrs Hawea says she makes sisi in assorted colours and some orders are specifically made according to what the client wants.
“If you request for purple then I have to colour the vau (hibiscus tiliaceus used on the garland) and the rose too.”
She said her sisi were different from other sisi ni Lakeba because it’s more a combination of Lau and Tongan garlands. She learn this from her Tongan mother-in-law.
“On Lakeba Island flowers for making sisi are easy to get like, uci, sinu, misimisi, mokosoi, lagakali, varavara, buasala, cevuga and vono.
“Here in Lami, sometimes mokosi is not available and I have to make minor adjustments with flowers that are missing just to maintain the beauty of the sisi that I sell.”
Mrs Hawea said women should learn to plant flowers and make something out of them.
“We women can help our husbands by doing something from our own home like selling pot plants or selling roti or food parcels.
“During this hard times we as women should help each other at home and also in the community where we are living.”
