Once upon a time, in the beautiful islands of Fiji, there lived a powerful shark god named Dakuwaqa. He was known for his love of battles and his desire to be the strongest of all the gods, called kalou vu or simply vu. These gods had settled across the Pacific archipelago, each taking a different form and living in various parts of the islands. Dakuwaqa chose the resource-rich area of Cakaudrove and transformed into a mighty shark. But he wasn’t satisfied. He wanted to prove he was the greatest and rule over all of Fiji’s islands.
In his quest for power, Dakuwaqa swam swiftly towards Rewa, where he encountered a clever eel-shaped god trying to block his path at a river’s mouth. The two gods clashed fiercely, creating huge waves that flooded nearby communities. Despite the eel’s efforts, Dakuwaqa’s strength was unmatched, and he emerged victorious. The battle left the Rewa River as the longest and widest in Fiji, causing frequent floods, but Dakuwaqa didn’t care as long as he remained undefeated.
After defeating the eel, Dakuwaqa continued his rampage and defeated Masilaca, a small but mischievous shark god near Beqa Island. Surprisingly, they became friends. However, Masilaca, tired of Dakuwaqa’s arrogance and the chaos he caused, decided to challenge him. He told Dakuwaqa about a fierce god named Rokobakaniceva, who protected the island of Kadavu. Masilaca teased that Dakuwaqa couldn’t claim to be the strongest until he defeated Rokobakaniceva.
Without hesitation, Dakuwaqa raced towards Kadavu. As he arrived, he saw a giant octopus guarding the entrance to a reef. This was Rokobakaniceva, who cared deeply for the people of Kadavu. Rokobakaniceva politely asked Dakuwaqa to leave the villagers in peace, but Dakuwaqa was only more determined to fight. He lunged forward, showing his sharp teeth, but Rokobakaniceva was ready. Using four tentacles to anchor to the seafloor, the octopus god used the other four to capture Dakuwaqa and flip him over.
In this position, Dakuwaqa experienced something called tonic immobility, a state where sharks become paralyzed when flipped over. Unable to move and struggling to breathe, Dakuwaqa realized he had lost for the first time. He promised Rokobakaniceva that he would change his ways. Instead of terrorizing others, he vowed to protect Fijian fishers and help them.
Rokobakaniceva accepted Dakuwaqa’s promise and released him. True to his word, Dakuwaqa stopped boasting about his battles and began helping people. He guided lost travelers back home and warned fishers of bad weather and dangerous sea creatures. In gratitude, the people of Fiji would pour a traditional drink called yaqona or kava into the ocean and throw fish heads back into the sea after successful fishing trips. These gestures were meant to honor Dakuwaqa and ensure his protection and blessings.
Illustrate the key events of the myth by creating a storyboard. Divide a sheet of paper into six panels and draw scenes from the story, such as Dakuwaqa’s battles and his change of heart. Add captions to describe each scene. This will help you visualize the narrative and understand the sequence of events.
Work in groups to perform a short skit based on the myth. Assign roles such as Dakuwaqa, Rokobakaniceva, and Masilaca. Focus on expressing the emotions and motivations of each character. This activity will help you explore the characters’ perspectives and the moral lessons of the story.
Using a map of Fiji, mark the locations mentioned in the myth, such as Cakaudrove, Rewa, Beqa Island, and Kadavu. Research each location to learn more about its geography and cultural significance. This will give you a better understanding of the setting and context of the story.
Imagine a different conclusion to the myth. Write a short paragraph describing how the story could have ended differently. Consider how changes in Dakuwaqa’s actions might have affected the outcome. This exercise will encourage you to think creatively and critically about the story’s themes.
Participate in a class discussion about the moral lessons of the myth. Consider questions like: Why is it important for Dakuwaqa to change his ways? How do the actions of the gods affect the people of Fiji? Share your thoughts and listen to others to deepen your understanding of the story’s messages.
With his appetite for conquest and knack for combat, the shark god Dakuwaqa was determined to vanquish all his rivals. Long ago, the ancestral gods of Fiji, known as kalou vu or simply vu, settled on the Pacific archipelago, each establishing a village in a different area. Eventually, they transformed into various forms. Dakuwaqa settled on resource-rich Cakaudrove and transformed into a shark. However, he was unsatisfied. He became proud and greedy, wanting to challenge every vu, establish himself as the mightiest, and dominate all of Fiji’s islands.
In his quest for power, Dakuwaqa sped through the waters toward Rewa, where a quick and cunning eel-shaped vu tried to stop him at the mouth of a river. Soon, the two were tumbling through the water, locked in combat. The brawling vu created towering waves, stretching the river further inshore and flooding nearby coastal communities. In the end, the eel was no match for Dakuwaqa’s ferocity. After the fight, the Rewa River became the longest and widest in Fiji, making nearby communities especially prone to flooding. But Dakuwaqa didn’t care about the damage he caused, as long as he remained undefeated.
Dakuwaqa continued on his rampage, later vanquishing Masilaca, the small, mischievous shark vu that lived near Beqa Island. Despite their rocky start, the two became friends. However, one day, Masilaca—perhaps growing tired of Dakuwaqa’s proud, selfish ways and the chaos he’d caused across the archipelago—presented a challenge he knew Dakuwaqa couldn’t resist. Masilaca spoke about a fierce vu called Rokobakaniceva, who guarded the outer island of Kadavu, and teased that until Dakuwaqa defeated them, he couldn’t claim the title of strongest vu.
Before Masilaca could even finish describing Rokobakaniceva, Dakuwaqa was jetting through the water toward Kadavu. As he approached, Dakuwaqa saw a giant octopus hovering at the entrance to a reef. The octopus vu, Rokobakaniceva, cared greatly for the people of Kadavu and politely asked Dakuwaqa to stay away and not intimidate the villagers. Dakuwaqa was only emboldened by the request. He showed his imposing teeth and lunged forward to attack. But Rokobakaniceva was prepared. With four tentacles, the octopus vu remained rooted to a rock on the seafloor and with the remaining four, captured Dakuwaqa’s body and flipped him over.
In this position, his breathing slowed and his muscles relaxed. He was paralyzed and powerless in a mysterious state called tonic immobility that some sharks assume when flipped over or when the sensitive pores of their snout are stimulated. Dakuwaqa was stuck upside down and struggling to breathe, and Rokobakaniceva’s tentacles wrapped tighter around his body. Though still shocked, Dakuwaqa realized the battle was lost for the first time in his life. In exchange for Rokobakaniceva’s mercy, he promised to change his ways. Instead of menacing the villagers and other vu, he vowed to protect Fijian fishers from Kadavu and beyond.
Pleased with the pact, Rokobakaniceva agreed and freed Dakuwaqa. He stayed true to his word—no longer bragging about dueling vu, conquering coastlines, and taking tributes. Instead, he began finding satisfaction in guiding lost people back to their homes and warning local fishers of bad weather and dangerous sea creatures. In return, some of Fiji’s people would pay homage to Dakuwaqa by pouring a traditional drink— yaqona, also known as kava—into the ocean. Upon returning safely from fishing trips with an abundance of catch, they’d throw fish heads back into the ocean for the sharks—gestures of mutual care to elicit luck and protection from Dakuwaqa himself.
Myth – A traditional story, often involving supernatural beings or events, that explains a cultural belief or practice. – In literature class, we read a myth about how the seasons change because of a goddess’s emotions.
God – A supreme being or deity worshipped in various religions, often believed to have control over certain aspects of the world. – In Greek mythology, Zeus is the god of the sky and thunder.
Battle – A fight or conflict between opposing forces, often depicted in stories as a struggle between good and evil. – The epic poem described a fierce battle between the hero and the dragon.
Strength – The quality or state of being physically strong or having power and resilience. – The protagonist’s strength was not just in his muscles but also in his unwavering determination.
Island – A piece of land surrounded by water, often used in literature as a setting for adventure or isolation. – The novel’s characters were stranded on a mysterious island after their shipwreck.
Eel – A long, snake-like fish often found in myths and stories as a creature of mystery and intrigue. – In the folktale, the wise old man transformed into an eel to escape his pursuers.
Octopus – A sea creature with eight arms, sometimes featured in stories as a symbol of intelligence and adaptability. – The children’s book told the story of an octopus who used its wits to outsmart a hungry shark.
Promise – A declaration or assurance that one will do something or that a particular thing will happen. – The knight made a solemn promise to protect the kingdom from any harm.
Protect – To keep safe from harm or injury, often a theme in stories where characters guard something valuable. – In the legend, the guardian was tasked to protect the sacred scrolls from thieves.
Kava – A traditional drink made from the root of a plant, often used in religious or cultural ceremonies in the Pacific Islands. – The villagers gathered to share kava during the festival, honoring their ancestors.
