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People, we’d really like you to meet:
- Apenisa from Fiji,
- Kalolo from Samoa,
- Tevita from Tonga, and
- Jean-Pierre from Vanuatu.
They are four Pacific Islanders find themselves united by circumstance and tradition far from the Pacific’s warm embrace. They work together as part of a road construction crew in the chilly Alps, their daily toils a stark contrast to the island life they’ve left behind. The cold mountain air and the isolation from their loved ones amplify their longing for home, but it’s around the grog bowl where their spirits find solace.
Kava Nights Reminiscing About Warm Days As they share kava, a tradition deeply rooted in their cultures, they’re transported back to their islands, if only for a moment. This nightly ritual becomes their shared haven, a space where memories of the past and dreams for the future intertwine, reminding them of the warm beaches, the embrace of their families, and the women they yearn to return to. Despite the hardships and the distance, their camaraderie, forged in the fire of shared experience and the calm of kava, keeps their hopes alive for the life that awaits them after their long sojourn.
“Grog Bowl Ballad” (In the style of a Hawaiian ukulele ballad by Don Ho)
[Chorus] Under the Alpine sky so wide, Around the grog bowl, we confide. Fiji, Vanuatu, Tonga, Samoa by our side, Dreaming of the warm tide.
[Verse 1 – Fiji] In Fiji’s sun, my heart does bide, Ukulele songs on the seaside. Missing her touch, the ocean’s wide, With grog, in dreams, we glide.
[Verse 2 – Vanuatu] Vanuatu’s land, our pride and guide, For home, our dreams, we’ve not denied. Through hard days and cold nights, we’ve tried, By the grog bowl, our fears subside.
[Verse 3 – Tonga] Tongan shores, where spirits reside, Family feasts, our hearts open wide. The kava’s path, together we stride, In its spirit, we confide.
[Verse 4 – Samoa] Samoa’s tales, in us, they imbibe, For the future, we work, we strive. Building dreams, for which we’ve thrived, By grog’s warmth, we’re revived.
[Final Chorus] With kava’s calm, our hopes are tied, Our island spirits, our guide. Fiji, Vanuatu, Tonga, Samoa, our pride, Back to our loves, we’ll glide.
*An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story.
Apenisa from Fiji
Jean-Pierre from Vanuatu
Kalolo from Samoa
Tevita from Tonga
