Fiji Code of Conduct
Should you be invited to visit a Fijian Village it is important to observe their code of conduct:
Wear modest clothing (leave your bikini or anything skimpy at the hotel). Please remove your cap or hat and your shoes before entering their BURE (Fijian House).
It is also customary to offer a gift of Yaqona, or Kava as it is commonly called, to the headman or Chief of the Village. The gift, or “sevusevu” as it is called, will cost around $20 Fijian dollars and will be presented on your behalf by one of his men designated to do this. You will also be offered a bowl of Yaqona (kava) to drink. Please do not refuse this as it is tantamount to an insult and constitutes bad manners. When you drink the kava, be prepared for an unusual taste. So please do not screw up your face in disgust as this also is a sign of offence and insult.
Fijian traditions are steeped in elaborate ceremonies and customs (as in the Kava ceremony) and they all have significant meaning in their lives. So it would be prudent to follow protocol when in their company. If you are unsure of anything at all, please feel free to ask your host so as to avoid embarrassment.
Fijians are traditionally a very religious people and Sunday especially is a day when many of them attend their local Church. There are many Christian denominations in Fiji and if you are able to visit one on a Sunday, it would be an experience worth savouring for the singing alone. They will welcome you as a very special guest and it will be an opportunity to get an insight as to how they live, the things that they hold dear in their lives and why relationships and hospitality mean the world to them.
As Fiji is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country, there are also Hindu and Sikh Temples and Mosques that dot the countryside.
Drugs are a no-no in Fiji and it is well advised not to buy or take any into the country as there are severe penalties for offenders.