Traditionally, the iTaukei were very fond of naming their children after historical events or events of significance surrounding the birth of a child.
The story of how Uneune Kelenaranadi ‘Kuini’ Bolevakarua was named proves this point.
Her first name means ‘the Queen has landed’.
On December 17, 1953, newly-crowned Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, arrived in Fiji onboard the royal yacht Brittania.
While the whole of Fiji was celebrating Her Majesty’s arrival, Jone Raqeukai and his wife Repeka Sogovono of Nakelo Village, Saqani, in Cakaudrove were having a different kind of celebration — they were celebrating the birth of their beautiful baby daughter.
“At that time, all births were reported to the buli (head of tikina) for registration,” said Ms Bolevakarua.
“My father, who was the registration officer at that time, went to report my birth to the buli.
“He was also related to the buli whose name was Ratu Josaia Daugunu, and because they were related, they named me after Queen Elizabeth II.”
Ms Bolevakarua shared that both her first and second names were related to events that happened in the country in 1953.
“My first name is Uneune which means earthquake in English – I was given this name because of the earthquake that also happened in 1953.
“Whereas my second name is Kelenaranadi, which means the Queen has landed, but my nickname is Kuini which is what everyone calls me.”
When asked if she had ever met the Queen, Ms Bolevakarua and her husband Simione Bolevakarua just laughed.
“Kuini has never met or seen the Queen in real life – she has only seen the Queen on TV,” Mr Bolevakarua said.
