Special Christmas for Lau Granny

This year's Christmas is going to be extra special for Selai Biu, 70, as she travels to her village home in Lakeba, Lau, to be with her family members, espe­cially her brother.

It has been 30 years since she last set foot in her village.

But that's not the only reason why Ms Biu is excited to go to Lakeba for Christmas.

Since the devastating volcano eruption in Tonga in 2022, Ms Biu's home was one of the many in the island that was destroyed from the effect of a tsunami that followed the eruption.

After two years of investing to rebuild her family home, Ms Biu heads back home by boat with her brother to see the completion of her new home.

The siblings are among the many other families who waited at Port Mua-i-Walu (formerly Narain Jet­ty) last Thursday to board the MV Lomaiviti Princess XII.

"I'm excited to see what has be­come of the home. I'm taking a few things to help start decorating it," Ms Biu said.

"My husband is from Saqani, Va­nua Levu, but we live with our four children at Waibau, Naitasiri, and we've been there ever since."

Ms Selai was accompanied by her daughter, Akosita Waqa, and her sister-in-law, Manaini Rawasa.

Ms Biu intends to spend Christ­mas and New Year in Lakeba before heading back.

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