Naitaba Island (Naitauba,[1]Naitaba[2]) [3][4] is an island of the northern Lau Islands of Fiji. It is a triangular shaped island approximately 2.4 km (1.5 mi) in diameter.[5] The island is volcanic with coral and rises to 186 metres (610 ft) on a flat-topped hill toward the southern end of the island.[6] The island is forested and coconuts were grown commercially for copra. There is a barrier reef completely surrounding the island.[6]
History
In early 1920 the coconut estates on Wakaya and Naitaba suffered a heavy loss due to a storm.[7] In 1965 the actor Raymond Burr and his partner purchased 1,625 hectares (4,015 acres) on the island,[8] where they raised copra and cattle.[9] This land was sold in 1983 to Johannine Daist Communion for the use of Adi Da,[10] with a purchase price of $2.1 million.[11] It was reported that Adi Da died of cardiac arrest on November 27, 2008, at his home on the island, while working on his art.[12][13]
^Henderson, George Cockburn (1933) The Discoverers of the Fiji Islands: Tasman, Cook, Bligh, Wilson, Bellinghausen J. Murray, London, page 203, OCLC56000674
^ abUnited States Hydrographic Office (1916) Pacific Islands Pilot Volume II (Eastern Groups) US Navy, Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., page 462, OCLC36732916
