Where It's Located
The Suva Fiji Temple is located at:
LOT 2-20 Lakeba St
Samabula, Suva, Fiji
The temple sits just minutes from the nearby Samabula Chapel and is located not far from downtown Suva. The property occupies approximately 4.7 acres on one of the highest points in the city.
One of the temple's most spectacular features is its location. From the temple grounds, visitors can see the Pacific Ocean from three sides.
Getting There
International travelers will generally arrive at Nausori International Airport, which serves the Suva area.
The temple is located within Suva itself, making it considerably more accessible than temples located far outside major population centers.
The temple currently has:
- An arrival center
- Patron housing
- A distribution center
There is no visitors' center open to the public.
A Historic Temple for the Pacific
The Suva Fiji Temple was announced on May 7, 1998.
It became an especially significant project for the Church because it would be the first temple built in Melanesia.
Before the temple was constructed, approximately 12,000 members in Fiji and surrounding Pacific islands had to travel internationally to attend temples.
Members traveled to temples in:
- Tonga
- Samoa
- New Zealand
The temple therefore represented a dramatic improvement in temple accessibility for Latter-day Saints throughout the region.
Groundbreaking
Groundbreaking and site dedication took place on May 8, 1999, exactly one year and one day after the temple was announced. Elder Earl M. Monson presided.
Interestingly, the Suva groundbreaking took place on the same day as the groundbreaking for the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple.
During the ceremony, Elder Monson spoke about watching the temple grow into a beautiful structure on the scenic hillside and connected temple work with preparing families for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
Public Open House
The first public open house took place from June 7–12, 2000.
The temple was then dedicated by President Gordon B. Hinckley on June 18, 2000.
At the time, it became the 91st dedicated temple in operation.
The First Temple in Melanesia
The Suva Fiji Temple's historical importance extends beyond Fiji.
It was the first temple constructed in Melanesia, a region of the southwestern Pacific that includes Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, and surrounding islands.
For members throughout the Pacific, the temple represented a major step toward making temple worship more geographically accessible.
A Difficult Renovation
The temple's history took an unexpected turn when it suffered extensive water damage.
The temple was closed for major renovations on October 13, 2014.
The renovation was extensive enough to require replacement of the:
- Roof
- Mechanical systems
- Interior walls
The work was specifically designed to prevent moisture from entering the building again.
Interestingly, much of the original exterior stone survived the renovation.
The 2016 Rededication
After the renovations, the temple held another public open house from January 25 through February 6, 2016.
Approximately 22,000 people toured the temple, including members of the public and dignitaries.
The temple was then rededicated by President Henry B. Eyring on February 21, 2016.
Tropical Cyclone Winston
The rededication occurred during a remarkable period of weather in Fiji.
The youth cultural celebration scheduled for the evening before the rededication had to be cut short because Tropical Cyclone Winston was approaching.
The storm struck that night with winds reaching approximately 175 miles per hour.
At least five people died, electricity was knocked out, and entire villages along Fiji's north coast were destroyed.
Fortunately, Suva was largely spared because the storm shifted direction only hours before landfall.
Because some members could not attend the rededication due to the storm, the service was rebroadcast the following Sunday.
Architecture
The Suva Fiji Temple has approximately 12,755 square feet of floor space.
The temple rises approximately 72 feet and features a single attached spire topped by an Angel Moroni statue.
The exterior is finished primarily in snow-white granite from Italy.
Its relatively compact size gives the building an elegant appearance without overwhelming the surrounding landscape.
A Temple Inspired by Fiji
Perhaps the most interesting part of the temple's design is how strongly it reflects its location.
The temple's colors and design motifs were inspired by Fiji's flowers, beaches, and jungles.
The interior includes original art glass and a hand-painted mural depicting the landscape and plant life of the islands.
This gives the Suva Temple a distinctly Fijian character.
The Temple's Art Glass
The temple contains distinctive art glass created by Tom Holdman Studios of Lehi, Utah.
The artwork incorporates:
- Woven banana leaves
- Hibiscus flowers
- Palm trees
- Light green colors inspired by Fiji's lush jungles
The artist developed a specialized molded-glass technique to create the desired texture and opacity while still allowing natural light to enter the building.
The Baptistry
The temple's baptismal font is another particularly beautiful feature.
It is constructed from Navonna Travertine stone and surrounded by a carved woven accent band.
Small glass tiles inside the font transition through graduated shades of blue to mimic the color and depth of the ocean.
The connection to Fiji's surrounding Pacific waters is a thoughtful design detail.
A Utah Connection
There is also a fun connection between the Suva Temple and Utah.
The glass and brass railing around the baptismal font was manufactured and installed by Ductworks of Logan, Utah.
The temple's art glass was also created by Tom Holdman Studios of Lehi, Utah.
So although the temple is distinctly Fijian in appearance, several elements were produced by companies from Utah.
Temple Layout
The Suva Fiji Temple contains:
- Two instruction rooms
- Two sealing rooms
- One baptistry
The two instruction rooms use a two-stage progressive format.
The Temple Grounds
The landscaping was designed by the Church's Physical Facilities department to complement the property's existing subtropical vegetation.
That approach helps the temple feel integrated into its tropical surroundings rather than separated from them.
Combined with its hilltop location and ocean views, the grounds are a major part of the temple's visual appeal.
Exploring Suva
A trip to the Suva Fiji Temple would also give visitors the opportunity to explore Fiji's capital.
Suva is located on the southeastern coast of Viti Levu and is Fiji's political and cultural center.
The city offers a very different experience from Fiji's famous resort areas.
Instead of focusing exclusively on beaches, visitors can experience:
- Fijian culture
- Colonial history
- Tropical gardens
- Museums
- Local markets
- Pacific cuisine
- Waterfront scenery
Fiji Museum
The Fiji Museum in Suva is an excellent place to learn about the country's history.
Its collections cover Fiji's Indigenous cultures, colonial period, archaeology, and maritime history.
For someone traveling specifically to experience Fiji rather than simply staying at a resort, it provides useful context for the country.
Suva Municipal Market
The Suva Municipal Market is another interesting stop.
The market provides a much more local experience than the major tourist areas and features tropical fruits, vegetables, spices, seafood, and other foods.
It is a good way to experience everyday life in Fiji.
Colo-i-Suva Forest Park
Just outside Suva is Colo-i-Suva Forest Park, a lush tropical rainforest area with walking trails, streams, and swimming holes.
It is an excellent complement to the temple because the temple's own design draws heavily on Fiji's tropical landscape.
Fiji's Beaches
Of course, no trip to Fiji would be complete without experiencing its beaches.
However, visitors should understand that Suva is not primarily Fiji's resort capital.
If the goal is a combination of temple worship and a traditional Fiji vacation, travelers may want to build additional time into their itinerary to visit other parts of the country.
Why the Suva Temple Matters
The Suva Fiji Temple is important because it dramatically changed temple access for members in Fiji and surrounding Pacific islands.
Before its construction, thousands of members had to travel to temples in other countries.
The temple brought temple worship much closer to home and became a major landmark for the Church in the Pacific.
Its importance is particularly clear when looking at the geography involved.
For island nations, international temple travel can require expensive flights, long travel times, and complicated logistics.
A temple in Suva eliminated much of that burden for many members.
A Temple Built for the Pacific
The Suva Temple is also an excellent example of how temple architecture can reflect local culture.
Its:
- Tropical landscaping
- Banana-leaf art glass
- Hibiscus motifs
- Ocean-inspired baptismal font
- Fijian landscape mural
- Green and natural color palette
all connect the building to the country where it stands.
It doesn't simply look like a temple that happens to be in Fiji.
It was deliberately designed with Fiji in mind.
Current Status
The Suva Fiji Temple is currently operating.
Key milestones include:
- Announcement: May 7, 1998
- Groundbreaking: May 8, 1999
- Original open house: June 7–12, 2000
- Original dedication: June 18, 2000
- Closed for renovation: October 13, 2014
- Second open house: January 25–February 6, 2016
- Rededication: February 21, 2016
- Current status: Operating
Planning a Temple Visit
The Suva Fiji Temple is an operating temple, but it does not have a public visitors' center.
Latter-day Saints planning to participate in temple ordinances should check the temple's current official schedule before traveling.
The property does have patron housing, which can be particularly useful for members traveling from other Pacific islands.
Final Thoughts
The Suva Fiji Temple is one of the most visually distinctive temples in the Pacific and one of the most historically important temples in the region.
Announced on May 7, 1998, it became the first temple built in Melanesia and was dedicated by President Gordon B. Hinckley on June 18, 2000.
Its 4.7-acre hilltop property provides views of the Pacific Ocean from three sides, while the building's Italian white granite exterior, single spire, tropical landscaping, and Fijian-inspired artwork make it especially beautiful.
The temple also has an unusual recent history. After suffering extensive water damage, it closed in 2014 for a major renovation. More than 22,000 people toured the renovated temple during its 2016 open house before President Henry B. Eyring rededicated it.
The timing of that rededication was extraordinary. Tropical Cyclone Winston struck Fiji the night before, forcing the cancellation of much of the planned youth celebration and preventing some members from attending the rededication.
Today, the Suva Fiji Temple stands as a reminder of the growth of the Church throughout the Pacific—and its design makes it especially appropriate for its setting. From banana leaves and hibiscus flowers in the art glass to ocean-inspired blue tiles in the baptismal font, the temple incorporates the natural beauty of Fiji into the building itself.
For Latter-day Saint travelers, a trip to the Suva Fiji Temple could combine temple worship, Pacific Island culture, tropical forests, local markets, ocean views, and the unique history of one of the world's most geographically isolated temple districts.
Scott & Riah
Brough Made
broughmade.com
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