Meet your Hibiscus queens
The 12 2018 Vodafone Hibiscus Festival Queen contestants (front row, from left): Christine Prasad and Ashna Dorees (middle row, from left): Nikhat Khan, Jessica Fong, Simran Nand, Zeba Ali, Lice Yacadra, Lavenia Lania (back row, from left) Rachel Ralogaivau, Rayshal Nath, Nayome Pauriasi and Sainiana Sova. The Hibiscus Festival will be held at Valelevu ground in Nasinu from August 10 to 18.
For the first time, the mother of all festivals, the Hibiscus Festival, will be held outside Suva.
The Vodafone Fiji Hibiscus Festival will be held at the Nasinu Grounds from August 10 to August 18. This was confirmed by Hibiscus Events Group chairman, Hirdesh Prasad yesterday.
Mr Prasad said the Hibiscus had always been Suva’s festival and this year there was no choice but to move it to Valelevu.
“We don’t have a choice, the show must go on,” he said.
“We have tried arranging for places around Suva, but were unsuccessful for some reasons.
“It is a big relief now and I am so thankful to the Vodafone Fiji Limited for having faith in us and believing that we will be able to find a venue.
“The logistics are going to cost us a little more money but we are thankful to have finally secured a venue.”
Mr Prasad commended the chief executive officer of Nasinu Town Council, Lute Berends, and his team.
“We are very happy that the festival will come to Nasinu, it will be good for our residents and everybody,” Mr Berends said.
“We think it will be a great festival.” Meanwhile, there are 12 confirmed contestants, some are yet to be sponsored.
“We will have the contestants sponsored now, because sponsors had some issues with the venue before, now that should not be a problem,” Mr Prasad said.
Miss APCO Nayome Pauriasi said they were now excited that the venue was finally confirmed.
“We started losing hope, but we are happy now that it’s finalised,” she said.