The village of Nasaumatua, Lovoni, on Ovalau, celebrated a big leap forward on Thursday (15/5/25) as local business Saunitoga Enterprises lights the path to sustainable agribusiness and global recognition.
In the heart of Ovalau’s rugged hills, a quite transformation in unfolding. The village came alive last Thursday as villagers gathered to witness a landmark moment, the official handover of a solar energy system to Saunitoga Enterprises Pte Ltd. But the occasion was about much more than new technology; it marked the culmination of one man’s determination to transform his ancestral land into a global player in the kava industry.
Mr. Sowani Saunitoga, the founder of Saunitoga Enterprises and proud son of Nasaumatua, has turned a grassroots idea into an international venture. His product, “Heritage Kava” is now sold on Amazon and Kava Bars across the United States. With Government's support and his own unshakeable resolve, Mr. Saunitoga is not only exporting a product; he’s exporting a story of cultural pride, sustainability, and rural empowerment.
For the people of Ovalau, kava isn’t just a crop. It is identity. It is a livelihood. It is legacy.
Recognising this, Mr Saunitoga set out in 2020 to build a business that honoured tradition while embracing innovation. From modest beginnings in Nasaumatua, his company, Saunitoga Enterprises Pte Ltd, has grown into a beacon of rural entrepreneurship. Its flagship product, Heritage Kava, now reaches customers in the United States and beyond, bridging oceans with the earthy aroma of Fiji’s sacred root.
“He dared to think bigger,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Honourable Manoa Kamikamica, during the handover and commissioning ceremony. “From humble beginnings, he has grown his company into a leading exporter, inspiring others with his commitment to excellence and community empowerment.”
Until recently, Saunitoga’s operations relied heavily on costly and environmentally taxing diesel generators. That changed with the help of the Government’s National Export Strategy (NES), which invested $100,000 in a state-of-the-art solar panel system to power his facilities. Mr. Saunitoga covered the remaining $48,187 as his contribution, a move that speaks volumes about his long-term vision.
“This installation is not just powering his enterprise; it is powering a new way of doing business in rural Fiji: cleaner, greener, more resilient,” DPM Kamikamica emphasised.
The solar upgrade has already transformed day-to-day operations, enabling longer processing hours, reducing carbon emissions, and lowering energy costs.
But Mr. Saunitoga’s ambitions don’t end with exports. With over $180,000 invested in two large-scale kava farms on mataqali land, he’s planted 13,500 kava plants with space for thousands more. The farms are more than fields; they are engines for job creation, skill-building, and community development.
“I want to build a self-sustaining business that feeds back into the village,” Mr. Saunitoga shared. “This is not just about profit; it’s about purpose.”
Despite ongoing challenges like challenging road access and infrastructure, he continues to push forward, proving that adversity can be a stepping stone rather than a setback.
Perhaps the most powerful aspect of Mr. Saunitoga’s journey is the example he sets. In an era when many rural youths leave for urban centres or overseas, he has stayed and succeeded, on his own terms, on his own land.
For Government, the Saunitoga story validates the importance of its MSME-focused strategies. As DPM Kamikamica noted, “In Fiji, every challenge is an opportunity. When we unite around a shared vision, we can turn our dreams into reality.”
The solar handover to Saunitoga Enterprises is symbolic of more than just renewable energy; it’s about renewing hope, revitalising tradition, and reimagining what’s possible in rural enterprise.
With visionaries like Mr. Saunitoga at the helm, Lomaiviti is poised not just to preserve its cultural roots but to export them proudly to the world.
As Fiji deepens its commitment to empowering micro, small, and medium enterprises, Mr. Saunitoga’s journey will stand as a shining example, illuminated now quite literally by the sun.
The path forward is bright for the Tikina Lovoni and the nation. If one man from a remote island can take kava global, it's clear that rural Fiji is ready to lead.