today, names may be inherited or passed on between relatives, but traditionally, fijian names have a meaning and a history surrounding them. before the arrival of christianity and european culture, fijian names were often based on circumstances or events surrounding the birth of the child, as well as other aspects. a modern example of a name that reflects both traditional and modern naming conventions is joni madraiwiwi, who served as vice-president from 2004 to 2006. "joni" is the fijian rendering of "john". "madraiwiwi", which means "sour bread," was passed on from his grandfather, also "ratu" joni madraiwiwi. the elder madraiwiwi was named by his father, mara kapaiwai (a namesake, not an ancestor, of the modern "ratu" mara), who was facing execution and eating his last meal. even the taste of bread had turned sour to him, hence the naming of his son.