Written by Kylie Barton

As environmentally conscious people, we are all well aware that when the population swells – the animals suffer. People need a lot of space, and in Sri Lanka this means there is less space for the elephants that are now sadly in the threat of extinction….

Written by Kirsty Barnby

Fiji celebrates World Tourism Day as a Democracy once more – rejoice!

Although this may seem a tenuous link; the fact that today the Fijian tourism industry is experiencing World Tourism Day as a democratic country once more is something to be very much celebrated. The focus…

Written By Kirsty Barnby

Island Spirit’s Crowdfunder Solar Project; A Brighter Future in Fiji. June 2014.

Island Spirit and Belmont High School are once again teaming up. This time we are asking people to come forward, dig deep and put some pennies towards a solar unit for Vidawa Community Hall, Taveuni,…

Written by Kylie Barton

Fijians are well aware of the damaging effects extreme weather can bring, especially as an Island state like that of Tonga which was hit by a category five tropical cyclone with winds up to 300km per hour earlier this month where 70 per cent of buildings…

Written by Kylie Barton

Countless research has demonstrated that societies with the least material prosperity are often richest in terms of happiness, community spirit, and general emotional well being. So is ‘development’ in the way the term is most often used actually desirable?

We at Island Spirit ask this question as…

Written by Kirsty Barnby

A new trip in the making

25 – 27^th March 2013

I took two friends to see our tour guide’s island with their own eyes. We were testing out two new locations for a back-to-basics island…

Written by Kirsty Barnby

Island Spirit is proud to be partnered with Waitabu Village and Marine Park. Here’s a little more about the village and it’s renowned Marine Park. A paper called: “Sacred Water”; 10 years of community managed marine protection supported by ecotourism-based income generation at Waitabu Marine Park, Fiji Islands. Gives a…

Written by Kirsty Barnby

I did a little presentation to a group students and guests at Daku Resort, Savu Savu, Vanua Levu, Fiji this week.

It was a last minute request and I ended up with a dog as an onscreen companion instead of any fancy slides. (Note to self -…

Written by Kirsty Barnby

Coconuts trees stand in unison quietly. One side of their tall, lean trunks are glowing orange as the afternoon sun continues to slow-roast them. I…

Written by Kirsty Barnby

Cocktails in coconut shells? More like kava in coconut shells. I’ve got myself a bit of a reputation for being the kava queen wherever I go and drink with the locals because I am one of few women who enjoy drinking it and can stay up for hours chatting…

Written by Kirsty Barnby

Island Spirit joins with the Honour Fiji Journey

This collaboration came about after meeting the Director of the Honour Fiji Journey and feeling the we had similar goals. Island Spirit facilitated the groups activities whilst they were staying…

Written by Kirsty Barnby

This evening I have admired the fat fruit bats as they wake up, unpacked my goodies, shooed a mouse out of my bread bag, cooked a thai meal, scared myself that someone else was under the bed, written this, talked to the dog, thought about life…