Cikobia-i-Lau

Not to be confused with Cikobia-i-Ra.

17°16′53″S 178°47′11″WCikobia-i-Lau,^{[note 1]} or Cirikalia, is an island in the Lau Islands in the north-east of Fiji. The island has historically been called Thikombia,^[1] Thimkombia-i-Lau^[2] or Farewell Island.^[1]

Cikobia-i-Lau

Map of Vanua Levu
Geography
Location	Pacific Ocean
Coordinates	17°17′S 178°47′W
Archipelago	Vanua Levu Group
Administration
Fiji
Division	Northern Division
Demographics
Population	100 (2017)

Environment

In the Quaternary period, Cikobia-i-Lau was one of the most seismically active islands in Fiji.^[1] In 1976 white-tailed tropic birds were using the islands cliffs as nest sites.^[3] The island is forested, has one village, as well as some caves, cliffs and gardens.^[3]

In 2016 Cyclone Winston damaged the island and its infrastructure, and repairs supported by the Fijian and New Zealand governments began in March.^[4]

Society

In 1982 Cikobiai-Lau's islanders rescued a Californian family who had spent 25 days adrift before being stranded on a sand bar close to the island.^[5]

Notable people

In 2016 the head man was Ledua Sele.^[4]

Gallery

• 
  Patchwork of vegetation in foreground, looking past Yanuyanu Island across the huge lagoon towards Cikobia-i-Lau in the distance
• 
  Holotype specimens of Moussonia bronieae, snails endemic to the island.^[6]
• 
  Cyclone over Cikobia-i-Lau, 2012

Notes

1. The island is distinct from Cikobia-i-Ra or "Leeward Cikobia", which is the northern most of the Fijian islands.