Lavenia Biaukula: Redefining Success, One Talent at a Time -IWD

Accelerate Action: Lavenia Biaukula’s Story - By Meiva Vuniwai

In celebration of International Women's Day 2025, we recognize Lavenia Biaukula, an enterprising kava seller who, with her husband's unwavering support, transformed her small business into a means of sustaining her family and strengthening her community. Her journey, marked by resilience and continuous learning, exemplifies the power of perseverance.

IWD - March 8 #AccelerateAction for gender equality.

“Au vakabauta ni keda na Marama eda rawata na veika kecega”

Na yacaqu o Lavenia Biaukula, au marama ni Navukailagi Gau au vakatikotiko mai Tumavia Nakelo, Tailevu. Au vakawati sara ki Daria, Wainunu, Bua, Vanualevu ka dua tiko na noqu gone susu yalewa yabaki 11. E vuli tiko mai na koronivuli ko Vunimono Primary School mai Nausori.

Na watiqu e dau ni teitei mai nakoro, dau tei Yaqona. Au kalougata ni’u kunea e dua na turaga e dau tokoni au voli ena noqu sasaga vaka marama.  Au cicivaka tiko dua na noqu bisinisi lailai, na bisinisi ni volitaki yaqona e na taudaku ni koro. E dina e bisinisi lailai tikoga io esa vukei keirau vakaveiwatini me rawa ni voli tu e so na vei ka lailai e dau gadrevi tu e lomani vale ena veisiga. O au kei na turaga watiqu keirau cicivaka tiko na bisinisi oqo ka sa neirau naki me keirau sa na vakalevu taka na neirau bisinisi ena gauna tu mai. 

Dua na ka au dau saki taka qo na noqu dau vulica na ka ena noqu raica voli ga. Au kila na tali ibe, au dau koti ulu, au dau vavavi, au vasaqa, au dau caka kesakesa, vata e levu tale na ka. Qo kece au vulica wale saraga ena noqu raica ka sarava ga ena kena caka. Au raica, au lai tovolea, au qai vuki sasaga jiko meu yacova niu rawata. Keda na marama, e dua na kaukauwa e tiko vei keda, eda rawata na ka kecega. Ke sa da bucina I yaloda meda na rawata e dua na ka, e sega ni cala, eda na rawata. Dua talega na vakavuvuli vei keda, ni so na gauna eda sasaga me da rawata dua na ka vinaka, qai da sega ni rawata ena matai ni sasaga, e sa da viritaki tawelu saraga kina. Ia, o keda e dodonu me da dau vuli mai ena noda druka. Na gauna e sa da druka se da lutu kina, me da tu mada vakadua, da rai lesu ki muri, da tarogi keda, ‘cava beka au rawa ni veisau taka me’u vinaka kina mai muri.’ 

Me vaka na noqu bisinisi qo, au sega sara tu ga ni’u kila dua na ka me baleta na cicivaki ni dua na bisinisi. Ena noqu veiwekani voli, noqu dau guta na ka, au sa qai tekivu tomitomi mai so na vurevure ni vakasama ni caka bisinisi. Au tekivu ga mai na volitaki kakana ve na Kava Bar nei neitou Talevu me yacova saraga noqu sa mai cicivaki bisinisi yaqona tu qo. Na veiwekani vinaka, e bibi baleta matai, eda sega ni kila tu na tamata ena yaga mai muri. Karua ni ka, me da dau vakavulici keda me da na dau veivukevukei ka veivaka tataki cake vaka I tokani marama.

E levu na gauna eda dau vakarautaka na rawaka ni dua na tamata ena nona vuli torocake, na nona I tutu vaka cakacaka vata kei na I lavo e rawata.  Ia o au, e dina e sega beka ni taucoko na ka au rawata me vaka na noda nanuma ni rawaka, ia au marau tiko, au tiko vakacegu. Au volitaki yaqona tiko, au lewena tiko e dua na soqosoqo va marama, ka vinaka tu na noqu veiwekani kei ira na wekaqu, kei ratou na taciqu. 

Keitou kana ena veisiga, keitou mamau, keitou vakaruru tiko e dua na delavuvu, au vei qaravi vei na luvequ, kei na watiqu. Ya saraga na revurevu ni noqu rawa ka. Au Marama mai dua na vuvale, au tina ni dua na vuvale, au nei vei ira na vugoqu, au tacidra na taciqu, vata au tokani vinaka vei ira na noqu tokani ka’u marama sinai ena taledi. Na noqu tutu vaka Marama e dua na isolisoli cecere duadua au rawa ni taukena.

Lavenia Biaukula and her family.

“I strongly believe that women are capable of anything.”

Lavenia Biaukula’s journey is one of resilience and creativity. Hailing from Navukailagi Gau and residing in Tumavia Nakelo Tailevu, she is married to the province of Daria Wainunu, Bua Vanualevu, and is a devoted mother to her 11-year-old adopted daughter, who attends Vunimono Primary School in Nausori.

Her husband, a farmer who plants Yaqona (Kava), is her steadfast supporter. Together, they run a small kava-selling business on the village outskirts, which helps them provide for their household. With plans to expand and open a local shop, Lavenia’s entrepreneurial spirit shines through.

A proud visual learner, Lavenia masters skills through observation and practice. From weaving mats and cutting hair to baking, cooking, and fabric painting, she believes that women can achieve anything with determination. She embraces failure as a stepping stone to success, viewing setbacks as opportunities for growth and improvement.

Her business journey began with selling food packs at her husband's elder brother's kava bar. Through networking within her community, she gradually learned to manage her own venture. For Lavenia, networking is vital not only for future opportunities but also for continuous learning from others.

While society often equates success with academic achievements and financial status, Lavenia finds fulfillment in her simple yet impactful life. She contributes to her community, nurtures her family, and maintains strong relationships, proving that success comes in many forms.

With food on the table and a roof over their heads, Lavenia cherishes her role as a daughter, mother, aunt, sister, friend, and a woman of many talents. For her, being a woman is one of life’s greatest gifts.

Lavenia Biaukula and her daughter