Fifty two-year-old Ilisapeci Maria is more than a housewife from Nakodu on Koro Island. She was born and bred in Koro, Lomaiviti and her source of income is selling voivoi (Pandanus leaves used to weave mats).
This grandmother is also an avid mat weaver and also makes regular trips out to sea to fish for her family.
“I have two plantations where I plant voivoi and it takes two years to grow before you can go and harvest it. It takes roughly two weeks to cut the pandanus leaves, cook and dry the leaves before I bring them to Suva to sell it in the market to our dealers.
“For one heap of voivoi, I can sell it for $50 and the smaller ones are $20. So, the more heaps of voivoi I sell, the more money I get,” she explained.
Maria is married to Penijamini Tukana, who is also a farmer from Koro. They have four children, a daughter and three sons.
“Now, I have two grandchildren and I just love being a grandmother.”
Maria explained that during this pandemic, people of Koro didn’t feel the pinch as much as the devastating Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston that laid villages on Koro Island to waste.
She said ever since the catastrophe villagers had to replant food crops after 2016 and a lot of families rely on agriculture.
“Other farmers sell yaqona (kava) and dalo which earns a lot of money as well. Some other villagers sell vegetables such as pumpkin, watermelon, chilies.”
Maria attended Nakodu/Mudu Primary School before she went to Koro High School only up until Form Four.
“After I finished my Form Four, I just stayed in the village, helping my mother and my father. My mother, who is 79 years old is still alive.”
In 1992, she married Tukana, and they started a family on the island of Koro.
Like many other Koro islanders, Maria said she would never forget what STC Winston did to them and fellow villagers.
“I was lucky and thanked God that I am still alive today with my children and husband.
“Our house was blown away. Even the chairs inside the church. We are still wondering where it has gone to.
“I have never experienced such a terrifying cyclone in my life like Cyclone Winston. There was nothing that we can rely on and we are still rebuilding as Cycone Yasa and Ana also affected us.
“At the moment, it’s hard to get coconuts.
“We just survive on staple food such as cassava and dalo and continue to have faith for better days to come.”
