Suva Guide back after 44 years
AFTER 44 years, a dedicated guidebook to Suva is back in print.
Suva deserves its moment in the sun. Although it sounds like a bad pun, given our typical weather, indulge me for a moment.
As the capital, Suva is Fiji’s epicenter of government and business, but apart from being a cruise ship destination Suva is still “undiscovered” as far as most tourists are concerned. That’s where the new edition of,
Suva A History and Guide comes in. It’s been 44 years since this book was first published and this update comes at a favourable and opportune time.
The first edition was written in 1978 by Albert Schütz with the assistance of former Suva Mayor, Sir Len Usher and Sir Philip Snow, a former colonial official.
More recently the late Dr. Schütz, a University of Hawaii linguist and former director of the Fiji Dictionary Project, teamed up with Robert Kay, the original author of the Fiji Lonely Planet guide for this update.
Unfortunately, Dr Schütz passed away in 2020 but Mr Kay recently completed the book which is now available on Amazon in digital and paperback versions.
“I helped Dr. Schutz update the book and completed it following his death two years ago. I was assisted on this version with local expertise from people such as Steve Yaqona and several academics from USP and Australia,” Mr Kay said.
“Given that cruise ships are back in Suva this book would be an ideal vehicle to direct the thousands of passengers that visit to shops, cafes, restaurants, and other attractions.”
Mr Kay is a former resident of Lami and spent considerable time in Suva.
The first version of Suva A History and Guide was only 52 pages long, but the revised version is over 200 pages. It’s packed with photos, maps, travel tips, and anecdotes that bring Suva’s past to life. It covers monuments, restaurants, cafes, shopping, as well as Suva’s flourishing arts, nightlife and of course history, including a chapter on Levuka.
Heritage sites are also highlighted. For example, the distinctive architecture that graces the Westpac Bank building, the Regal Theatre, the GPH, St. Andrews Church, the old Fiji Times Building and other structures are detailed in sections by Hawaii architect,
Gerry Takano, who spent a year in Fiji as a historical preservationist.
There’s also a self-guided walking tour, obligatory for visitors – whether they are day trippers or cruise ship passengers. With detailed descriptions that will bring sightseers into the heart of Suva life, the tour begins at the Municipal Market and ends at the Fiji Museum.
As visitors wend their way through central Suva, they’ll see sights such as old The Regal Theater building, an art deco treasure; St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, one of the oldest buildings in Fiji; the venerable Grand Pacific Hotel, where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visited; and many other landmarks.
The local entertainment and arts scene is also included in the guide. With bars, nightclubs, modern dance, live music, and art exhibitions, Suva offers visitors a rich and diverse cultural tapestry.
Also featured is a comprehensive history of Suva, highlighting the famous and not so famous personalities that made Suva the hub of the South Pacific. Dr Schutz, cleverly employs street names as a vehicle to engage the reader in Suva’s colorful history.
Thus, you’ll see profiles of the famous, such as Ratu Sukuna (Ratu Sukuna Road) and the not so famous like Dr. Lindsay Verrier (Verrier Road) or Archie Seeto (Archie Seeto Street). Not everyone who garnered a street name was a household name, but all contributed to making Suva what it is today.
Suva A History and Guide will help connect you to the capital city’s spirit of place and its friendly people.
The new edition features local contributors such as photographer, Josua Mudreilagi Namoce and linguist, Dr. Paul Geraghty.
The book also covers Suva’s arts and cultural scene, such as the new Center for the Arts gallery in Walu Bay, the Oceania Centre for Arts and Culture at USP, the Moana Loa Performing Arts Centre and the Fiji Museum. The book also gives a glimpse into Suva’s vibrant nightlife, arguably the best in the South Pacific.
Forty-four years is a long time to wait for an update, but its time has come. Suva A History
and Guide the only travel guide to Suva available and is an ideal instrument for overseas promotion.
Suva must be more than just a stop for occasional cruise ships. It must be recognized as a major Fiji destination.
Travelling is a value-rich activity and a guidebook like this will enhance any visitor’s consumer choice, excitement and learning when visiting Suva.
I believe this book, in the hands of potential visitors, can make this happen!
(Note: From next Sunday we will feature selected chapters from the latest edition of Suva A History and Guide)