Lolofutu Beach Barn

17/12/2024

There is so much we miss, but inside we hold very dear our memories. Building Lolofutu beach barn was a life style experience, it wasn't just the end product. We met great people and loved our animals that shared our time on Nomuka. But damn it ended up as paradise before that wave took it away.

08/11/2023

Nomuka Iki still looks terrible. The brutal force of the tsunami still evident. Visiting our place this season was shocking. Our beach at Lolofutu is much bigger which is nice. But the gorgeous trees our home and even much of the earth it stood on is gone. Now we have moved our horses from Nomuka it feels more empty. You can check out events and moving the horses 3 episodes on Dior Sheen Utube

04/04/2022

03/04/2022

Time moves us away from an event but the consequences are still real. and myself are devastated about loosing our island home the Lolofutu BeachBarn. It was a creative sanctuary where we lived in off grid harmony. The animals we love, the trees, the garden the sea. The consequences of that volcanic eruption has been unbelievable. Sam and family struggle on living in a tiny home in the village, they are caring for our 2 horses and dogs best they can. Covid in Tonga has created more issues holding up aid, food and building deliveries. I haven’t posted much here and in truth it will become less, without the Barn it becomes hard. Unless I just post it’s history. That may happen but if you are still intrigued by the Lolofutu Beach Barn you can follow us personally or our business that still exists and you will find continued stories as time ticks on. Thankyou for following and sharing love of travel and finding our dreams which has been the development of our home the barn. To the harsh reality of its total destruction.

13/02/2022

Dior has been working hard, she has just released another video that kinda brought Dave and I to tears. We are going to miss that sanctuary. Seeing Sam's face just makes us want to be with him. Please have a look, I'm sure this creative focus of Dior's is helping her get through this difficult time. Thankyou so much everyone it feels so great to have you onboard. We transferred our first amount to Sam yesterday so we are just waiting on the stores to reach the shore. Lock down has been making this very hard but we are many determined people! thank you!! xx Dave , Tris and Dior.https://www.gofundme.com/.../help-us-help-sam-family-and.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEcTawuuoNk

Hello AgainDue to recent events, we have lost our home to a tsunami. Our hand built, self sustained home of 8 years, more recently home to our lovely family ...

11/02/2022

Some before and after photos of the Barn after the recent tsunami. I think you’ll pick it. The destruction was huge. Nothing is recognisable. We are lucky to have Sam family safe and majority of our animals. Sam and his son risked their lives getting the horses out. At first I was furious, knowing we could’ve lost them, now I’m grateful to have them all. If you would like to help us help Sam with the huge recovery please visit my bio for our link. Thankyou.

09/02/2022

https://gofund.me/8034924d

So many wonderful people have sent in messages of concern and love, thank-you. Many of you have asked to help. Dave, Dior and myself Tris have sat on the offers for sometime now. We have decided the best thing we can do is to raise money to support Sam and his family. He risked his life to save our horses, he has always looked after us and us him. We have all lost everything we have on the island except each other and our animals, thankfully!. By donating here we can continue to support Sam and his beautiful family and the animals. Dior Sheen Dave Sheenie

Hello, We are Tris, Dave and Dior Sheen. This fundraiser we have created is to … Tristin Sheen needs your support for Help us help Sam family and our animals

08/02/2022

Shhhhh. Time for a whale. I wish.

06/02/2022

The Lolofutu Beach Barn
As the days pass the news settles uncomfortably on us. We have now received a few images of what was our home There is nothing there, it’s unrecognisable, just a few concrete stumps. Our friends, Sam family our 2 horses and 4 dogs are ok. Our cat is missing and the laying hens swept away. As I troll through my memories of leaving the barn at first I just thought it’s ok, it’s just material stuff. But the barn wasn’t. Just anything. We shared it with many, we laughed, cried, yelled, slept, ate, sang. We built it out of the jungle starting with machetes. I realise that the barn was a combined expression of our selves. It was the visible physical sanctuary we created. With no building regulations, rules and boundaries it rose from the jungle near the beach. It’s this I will miss that part of us that we can’t invite friends and family to share anymore. A place where animals are safe and loved. We have lost physical things, trees and spaces where Kai played or worked. More possessions and precious drawings our boy created have dissolved. We have memories but the objects of Kai’s just keep getting taken. This hurts. It makes me want to create a tribute/ legacy to him for him to be with us. So I sigh. It’s not Just a house!