Wakaya Island is a private Island.  Over the past 100 years it has been the location of a brutal war, sugarcane plantation, coffee plantation, and now an exclusive private resort.  

We left the island of Makogai and headed 20nm south toward Wakaya seeking protection from the wind.  

We did not think we would be able to come here as it is a private island.  However, I reached out to the general manager of the Wakaya Island Resort and Spa and she granted us permission to anchor in the bay.

Makogai and Wakaya both share the same figure 8 shape reef.  However, the only way to get from Makogai to Wakaya is to leave the reef, sail around the outside, and enter the reef again at the north pass of Wakaya lagoon.

The entire lagoon is a marine preserve.

Wakaya’s History

1937.  Over 800 warriors from neighboring Ovalu island successfully attacked Wakaya.  The men were murdered, the women enslaved, and the Chieftain leapt off the cliff to avoid torture and capture.  

1840.  The captain of Currency Lass arrived in Levuka on Ovalu and purchased Wakaya.  All of the inhabitants were removed and only a few plantation workers remained through 1971.

1860’s First site of sugar production in Fiji.  Became a financial failure as the island was too small to support a commercial sugar plantation even with a sugarcane mill.  

1940’s proposed home for the Banabans. The Fijians and the British could not agree on a price so, they bought Rabi as the relocation site. Wakaya remained as is. 

The Resort’s Creation

1973. David Gilmour purchased Wakaya for $600,000.  He developed the island, and built the resort,  Wakaya Club and Spa. 

Mr. Gilmour and partners spent over $13 million on building the resort, airport, freshwater reservoir, golf course, jetty, staff village, church, and school. 

Mr. Gilmour founded Fiji Water and was responsible for making the island a sustainable island and resort.

2016. Cyclone Winston destroyed most of the island.

In the same year, the resort was sold to the now-convicted Seagram’s heiress Clare Bronfman who owns most of the island. Cyclone Winston, one of the strongest cyclones on record, passed directly over Wakaya leaving much of the island in complete disarray.

Back to the Roots

In late 2016, Wakaya reclaimed its roots with a solemn vow to honor the original Chief’s wishes to protect the natural beauty of the island and embrace the heritage of the original islanders, ensuring their freedom and prosperity.

Today, Wakaya Island has seen many Fijian families grow and is home to one of Fiji’s most stunning examples of a luxurious retreat in the Southern Hemisphere: Wakaya Island Resort & Spa

In 2022, the American tourism marketing company, Pacific Storytelling, partnered with Wakaya Club & Spa Resort.

Wakaya Resort & Spa

The resort can host 36 people in its 10 bures and two large houses. 

However, there was only one couple staying on property during our initial visit.

The resort honored us with a tour of the grounds. What a huge privilege.  

Sonny, a staff member, greeted us with a fresh coconut and a flower. 

We walked passed the negative edge pool, marina, reception area, and pristine grounds.

Each building has incorporated Fijian culture. At every turn you will find hand-made designs from the ceilings, to the chandeliers, hand carved poles, and ancient artifacts. 

It is truly a beautiful blend of their ancestors and modern comfort.

We visit the organic garden which supplies 60% of the food to the resort. 

The other 40% of their food is shipped in from the mainland (which is shipped from other countries). 

Including apples, oranges and other things that can’t grow on island.

They have cows, pigs, chickens, and deer!  Yep, deer.  They are the only island in Fiji that has deer.

We felt so blessed to be able to see this resort. 

It was a once in a lifetime opportunity. 

We would never be able to afford to stay here. 

Rooms start at $2,500 per night and go up to $11,000 per night – that is USD!

Wakaya on No Foreign Land

Our blog posts run 6-8 weeks behind actual live events.  We were in Wakaya at the end of July 2025.

We share the success story of the island of Makogai in our last blog post.