This ceremony has a very strict protocol. First the Fijians spread fresh woven mats on the floor and then place a big wooden kava bowl in the center. Then everyone takes their place around the kava bowl. The turanga-ni-koro (pronounced tor ah knee koro) or the village herald, sits next to the guest of honor and first he gets up and introduces the guest to the chief. Then the guest must get up and give a short speech explaining the reason for his visit. Then the guest must take a bunch of kava root, holding it in both hands, and approach the chief. He then places the bunch of kava root in front of the chief and backs away without ever turning his back on the chief. He then sits back down cross-legged making sure not to point the bottom of his feet in the direction of the chief. The chief will then place both hands on the kava root signaling that the guest is now accepted as a member of the village. Finally the kava root is ground up, washed through water n the kava bowl resulting in a grey dirty looking water. The turanga-ni-koro scoops up a half coconut full of the kava water and hands it to the guest who must clap once and then drink it all down. The rest of the men then clap three times. Then a cup is given to the chief who claps once, takes the cup, drinks it down and everyone then claps three times. This goes on until everyone has had at least one cup.

When I was handed my cup, the turanga-ni-koro asked if I wanted a high tide or a low tide (Transation – a full or half full cup)

We were now welcomed into the village as if we were of their own.