Konousi (Koni) Aisake was born in the isolated village of Fapufa in 1960, the 13th of 16 children born to Aisake Kaurasi and Raumue Penerope. Of the 16, ten boys and four girls survived to adulthood.

Konousi left Rotuma for Fiji at age 14 and attended D.A.V. Boy's College in Suva. He worked for the Blue Lagoon Cruise company for ten years until 1987 and was one course short of attaining an interisland master's certificate when the coup overthrowing the Fiji Government occurred, leading him to emigrate to Canada.

He met his future wife, Sandra, in 1985. They met again in Suva after the first coup,and "we watched the burning that occurred in Suva town and the second coup. From that moment we said that we'll start a new life in Canada." They were married on 14 November 1987.

Konousi worked in a stained glass factory for ten years where he learned the art of making stained glass. In 1996 he set out on his own as a self-taught wood carver and maker of art objects from stained glass.

"I started this art as a gift for my Dad. The goal is to spread his name and to create a smile and joy in anyone with an interest in art.I hope one day to have time to teach my style in Rotuma. The designs are my own and the carvings tell a lot about my family, and about Rotuma.

Yellow cedar is the wood that I use mostly for carvings. It's not as cheap as other wood, but it is the best for carvings.

An interview with Konousi Aisake