Fragrant oil

How the Rio Olympics made this oil a winner

Their company makes the fragrant Kakala Polynesian Body Oil range for the Tongan and export market.

Though the business started out as a hobby, Ms Afeaki worked hard to fine tune her product range while also simultaneously raising a family.

It was a challenge she rose to with help from a supportive family, Ms Afeaki says. “From manufacturing the coconut oil to packaging and sales there are so many different hats to wear.”

Vava’u brings fragrant oils fit for royals

The company first started with coconut oil, using the traditional Tongan way of making body oil, infusing coconuts with local flowers and scented leaves like Ylang Ylang, red ginger, spice and cinnamon.

Explaining the process, True Vava’u owner Yvette Paea says, “Coconuts are scraped and milk squeezed out, then placed in a large iron pot together with the flowers or scented leaves. The contents are stirred on a low fire for several hours until the coconut milk turns to oil. These are left overnight to cool and then sieved and bottled.”