Rabi Island is another island nation populated by non-Fijians. They are technically citizens of Fiji, but they are from the island of Banaba in Kiribati and have their own government and customs. Their homeland was ruined by phosphate mining done by other countries. Rabi was purchased for the Banabans by the British Government and they were resettled here.
Katherine Bay is pretty in the mangrove-and-mud-shore way, but I would not call it a must do. There are different family groups and two different religions there, one with a nice church and the other with, well, not much of a church. This is yet another case where you can go ashore and be part of village activities, or stay on your boat, duck below when anyone goes by, and head out the next day like we did. Know that if you do go meet and greet either village/religious group, you will probably find yourself sitting on a mat in someone’s home and attending a church service.
If you love this sort of thing, great. Be warned,though, that the coconut net will spread word of your presence fast and you may soon find that you’re requested to visit Nuku, a city in the middle of the island, to clear in. As I mentioned before, they have their own government and if they get wind of you interacting they’ll want you to check in. (I don’t know why but if you keep to yourself, you won’t be bothered).
If you’re requested to go to Nuku, you’ll have to take a bus, or you’ll have to take your boat to an unprotected anchorage for the afternoon (and perhaps be asked to transport villagers and relatives of villagers and their stuff and before you know it you’ve become an unofficial ferry).
(Sevusevu Optional, but you probably should if you stay more than overnight)
Below is link to our post from Katherine Bay: