NAIGANI HISTORY The island of Naigani was named after a mysterious lady of long ago, and the Island's legends still survive. Naigani's ancient hillside sacred fort, sacred bay, and cannibal cooking cave (with its roof still marked with soot from burnt human flesh), are relics of Fiji's fascinating and sometimes terrifying pre-european history.

                   Cannibal Cooking Cave

LAPITA POTTERY In 1981, during construction site work on the Resort, Lapita pottery fragments were unearthed and dated to C1590 BC, evidence supporting the fact that the Lapita people were part of Fiji's pre-history. These archeological artifacts link Fiji to other far-flung Lapita sites including the island of New Britain, on the north-east coast of Papua New Guinea.   

The Fiji Museum has conducted further excavations on Naigani and has confirmed contact between the Lapita pottery people of north-west Melanesia and Fiji, over 3,000 years ago. Among the discoveries at the digs, were small anthromorphic clay figurines in human and animal forms, which are thought to be ancient toys. A number of adzes in varying stages of manufacture or repair were also found.

A large percentage of the excavated materials are foreign to Naigani and connect Naigani to other Lapita sites around Fiji dating back to C2,500-C2,000 years ago. Prior to the Naigani Lapita discovery , only three other sites belonging to the first 1,000 years of Fiji's human history had been discovered. This discovery places Naigani at the very top of list of important pre-historical and archeological sites in Fiji.

MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY  The famous (or infamous) Captain William Bligh, victim of the mutiny on the 'HMS Bounty', sailed past Naigani and in so doing, gave the surrounding seas its name "Bligh Waters".

                                              Old Levuka                                                     Cession Rock               

COLONIAL PAST The signing of the Deed of Cession at Levuka on the neighboring  island of Ovalau on October 10th 1874, brought Fiji under the protection and Colonial rule of Queen Victoria's Great Britain. 

               Historical and charming day trips to Levuka available

Naigani was frequented during this period by sailors, whalers , and sandalwood traders, as well as the odd scoundrel or two. With its fresh water springs, young green coconuts, and superb fringing reef fishing, Naigani provided back then as it does today, a welcoming stop to all its visitors on their epic voyages and adventures.

                                                                      Fiji's Deed of Cession