Naitaba

Naitaba Island (Naitauba,¹ Naitaba²) ³⁴ 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

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.¹²¹³