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The Tanna Kava Story can be traced back to over 4 years ago. A key figure in Vanuatukavastore.com, leased out a room to a long term friend Eddie, who was managing a construction team in Port Vila - the capital of Vanuatu. Through Eddie, the VKS team met Kofel Loughman, a "man-tanna" - a Vanuatu term used for people from Tanna island - who was Eddie's leading hand. A bond grew between the key VKS members and Kofel of them through the drinking of kava in various nakamals in Port Vila. Whilst Eddie left Vanuatu (we are sure he'll be back soon enough) when his contract finished and Kofel went back to Tanna, whenever Kofel was back in Port vila he would catch up the VKS crew for a few shells.
It was during a visit back to Port Vila in 2008 by Kofel, that the discussion came up about business opportunites in Tanna. Tanna island has long been a destination for tourists wanting to visit Mount Yasur, the live Volcano and to experience the Tanna "kastom", however aside from Tanna Coffee there was little too no industry aside from tourism. The most obvious idea was kava. However this was easier said then done. Tanna kava is steeped in tradition (as you will read through out this site) and only a small amount was being exported to Port Vila for domestic use. This wasn't because Man Tanna didn't want to sell their kava, its just that the transport logistics, inter island prejudices and other factors were in play which made it difficult.
Enter Daniel Samson, a long term friend and relative of Kofel's who resided in Tanna but was in Port Vila for a period studying. Daniel has a long list of both trade and scholastic achievements which unfortunately were being under utilised in Tanna island due to Tanna's lack of resources and infrastrucutre.
Kofel introduced Daniel to the VKS team and a business model evolved, allowing kava grown by both Daniel's and Kofel's families to be shipped to Port vila. The plan factored in transport costs, fair payment to the families and the ability to sell Tanna kava at a reasonable price online. The end result is the site you are on now - Tannakava.com - a website that all three parties and related families are proud to be associated with.
When you buy kava from Tanna Kava you are essentially putting money straight back into the very micro economy that is Tanna, from both the kava growers, through to the man-tanna who run transport in Tanna, through to the milling plant in Port Vila, through to the ni-vanuatu fulfillment team who process your orders.
Below are brief biographies of each of the partners involved in Tanna Kava
Kofel Loughman
Kofel Loughman was raised in Iakwinyou village in the Western part of Tanna island. He was born to a local family who were gardeners from many generations back. Small amounts of kava sent to Port Vila was their main source of income. This allowed the Loughman family to send some of their boys to Port Vila to study, all of which went on to find jobs as varied as lawyers through to labourers.
Kofel's enthusiastic and friendly nature has endeared him to many people both in Tanna, Port Vila and aborad. Kofel has been instrumental in coordinating the Tanna Kava business plan which involved liaising with kava growers in Tanna, the Vanuatu Kultural Senta, overseas production companies (have you seen the documentary "Meet the Natives", a documentary about a group of man-tanna from kofel's area staying with various families in the UK - if not, its a must watch!) and most importantly of all getting approval from the various chiefs and hierachy from the Iakwinyou area to sell kava online.
Daniel Samson
Daniel Samson was born and raised to a local family in the Eastern part of Tanna island in a village called Isaka. Like Kofel his family came from a long line of gardeners and hunters.
 Kava was the crop of choice, due to it being able to be sold within the island as well as domestically in Vanuatu. Through church groups identifying Daniel as intuitive and resourceful, Daniel was granted numerous trade and education scholarships, of which he all completed with high grades.
Working in Tanna with Church groups assisting in the building of churches and also participating in internet workshops, Daniel's skillset has been instrumental in building Tannakava.com. Daniel set up supply and transport of kava within Tanna, negotiated fair and reasonable prices for purchasing of Tanna kava and supply and shipping to Port Vila. Daniel also wrote 90% of the copy on the site and has been Tannakava's main source cultural information for tannakava.com
The VKS Team
 Vanuatu Kava Store has been involved with online kava sales as part of the since 2007 . The Vanuatu Kava Store Team is made up of ni-vanuatu, both white and black. All members of the team have long term experience in kava, the industry that is and have worked either locally or abroad developing, selling and manufacturing Vanuatu kava and related products for over 10 years. Our combined experience in the industry amounts to over 40 years, so yes, “We know our Kava!”. The VKS team are stoked to be involved in this project and look forward to helping boost the Tanna micro economy and increase awareness of Tanna Custom and Culture. |
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 $171.90
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