Kava is said to have originated on the archipelago of Vanuatu, whose name means “The Land Eternal.” It has been domesticated throughout Oceania (Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia). It comes from places referred to by many of us as paradise, including Fiji, Samoa, Tahiti, Tonga and Hawaii where it is called Awa. This member of the Pepper family (Piperacea) has been used for centuries in different ceremonies promoting social, cultural and religious enhancement. Oceanic cultures revere this plant, and its importance to them is much deeper than support for relaxation.*