And how much did Sole & Semi Tukana's 'Go Fund Me' raise for Mausio?
According to Mausio's Facebook: |  "Flight Pilgrim" Semi Tukana  |
Michael Mausio has broken his silence on Facebook, posting an emotional defence of his failed Fiji–Israel charter flight project. Semi Tukana and others have reproduced it on their own Facebook sites.
What Mausio frames as a visionary plan to turn Fiji into a “regional hub for religious tourism” has instead spiraled into legal battles, unpaid bills, and finger-pointing, with Mausio blaming everyone but himself.
According to Mausio, his dream was simple: organize a Fiji Airways charter to Israel, create a five-year plan for pilgrimages, and position Fiji as a regional gateway. Deposits rolled in. He claims 170+ passengers paid $10,000 each, and the September 29, 2023, flight to Tel Aviv took off successfully.
But behind the Instagram-perfect launch, Mausio’s Facebook “confession” paints a messy picture of chaotic finances, mismanagement, and blurred lines between private and public responsibility.
The Blame List
In his posts, Mausio lays the groundwork for a “not my fault” narrative:
In short, Mausio portrays himself as an innocent victim of freeloaders, bureaucratic betrayal, and divine misfortune.
October 7 and the “Perfect Storm”
Central to Mausio’s story is the eruption of the Israel–Hamas war on October 7, 2023. He claims the group “crossed Gaza just a day before the violence,” but as war broke out, churches withdrew, financiers panicked, and the government intervened.
“The government stepped in to repatriate nationals on the planned return flight, took the credit with speeches and ceremonies, but refused to settle the bill,” Mausio alleges.
This, he says, triggered a “deed of forbearance” with Fiji Airways, collapsing his financing and killing a five-year plan he had marketed to Pacific churches across Samoa, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Fiji.
Money, Mystery, and Missing Accountability
What Mausio doesn’t explain:
Instead, Mausio’s narrative pivots to emotional appeals: claims of being called a conman, suffering depression, and almost contemplating suicide. While sympathetic on a human level, these confessions sidestep the hard financial questions Fiji Airways, passengers, and creditors might have.
The Curious Role of the Fiji Government
Mausio directly accuses the Fiji Government of using his charter for free political mileage:
“They took the credit publicly but refused to cover the bill of the repatriation flight. Fiji Airways still insisted the client owed.”
If true, this raises questions:
Without documented agreements, Mausio’s claims remain allegations but serious ones that deserve scrutiny.
From Catwalk to Cockpit: A Risky Pivot
Mausio proudly reminds followers of his background: designer for House of Mausio, engineer by trade, and a “dreamer” willing to take bold risks.
But his Facebook account of the saga shows textbook project mismanagement:
The result? A high-stakes gamble that collapsed spectacularly when real-world geopolitics intervened.
The “Martyr” Narrative
Mausio closes his posts on a defiant, almost spiritual note:
“I’ve been called a conman, dragged online, driven into depression, even close to suicide. But my faith grew stronger. I learned that taking risks will always draw critics, but I’d rather fail boldly than die asking ‘what if?’”
But behind the motivational soundbites, Mausio’s Facebook saga inadvertently raises serious red flags:
Fijileaks Verdict
Michael Mausio may see himself as a visionary entrepreneur derailed by war, government politics, and unpaid clients. But his own posts reveal a different story: a project built on thin contracts, overextended promises, and shaky financing, now buried under lawsuits and finger-pointing.
Until Mausio produces audited figures, signed agreements, and proof of government liability, his “full story” looks less like a heroic tale and more like a $10K pilgrimage dream gone spectacularly wrong.
What Mausio frames as a visionary plan to turn Fiji into a “regional hub for religious tourism” has instead spiraled into legal battles, unpaid bills, and finger-pointing, with Mausio blaming everyone but himself.
According to Mausio, his dream was simple: organize a Fiji Airways charter to Israel, create a five-year plan for pilgrimages, and position Fiji as a regional gateway. Deposits rolled in. He claims 170+ passengers paid $10,000 each, and the September 29, 2023, flight to Tel Aviv took off successfully.
But behind the Instagram-perfect launch, Mausio’s Facebook “confession” paints a messy picture of chaotic finances, mismanagement, and blurred lines between private and public responsibility.
The Blame List
In his posts, Mausio lays the groundwork for a “not my fault” narrative:
- Ex-Fiji Airways crew allegedly flew for as little as $1,000 return.
- Relatives of airline staff supposedly flew back for free.
- Government officials travelling privately didn’t pay.
- The Fiji Government allegedly used the return flight as a repatriation but refused to cover costs, leaving Fiji Airways demanding settlement.
- Some passengers under the main client never paid at all.
In short, Mausio portrays himself as an innocent victim of freeloaders, bureaucratic betrayal, and divine misfortune.
October 7 and the “Perfect Storm”
Central to Mausio’s story is the eruption of the Israel–Hamas war on October 7, 2023. He claims the group “crossed Gaza just a day before the violence,” but as war broke out, churches withdrew, financiers panicked, and the government intervened.
“The government stepped in to repatriate nationals on the planned return flight, took the credit with speeches and ceremonies, but refused to settle the bill,” Mausio alleges.
This, he says, triggered a “deed of forbearance” with Fiji Airways, collapsing his financing and killing a five-year plan he had marketed to Pacific churches across Samoa, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Fiji.
Money, Mystery, and Missing Accountability
What Mausio doesn’t explain:
- If 170+ passengers paid $10,000 each, that’s over FJ$1.8million collected. Where did the money go?
- If Fiji Airways only issued the final signed charter agreement in September, why were passengers sold packages long before a secured deal existed?
- Why wasn’t the financial risk insured or secured before promoting multi-year “pilgrimage charters” to the Pacific’s churches?
- Why is there no independent audit of passenger funds versus Fiji Airways’ outstanding claims?
Instead, Mausio’s narrative pivots to emotional appeals: claims of being called a conman, suffering depression, and almost contemplating suicide. While sympathetic on a human level, these confessions sidestep the hard financial questions Fiji Airways, passengers, and creditors might have.
The Curious Role of the Fiji Government
Mausio directly accuses the Fiji Government of using his charter for free political mileage:
“They took the credit publicly but refused to cover the bill of the repatriation flight. Fiji Airways still insisted the client owed.”
If true, this raises questions:
- Did the Rabuka coalition government appropriate a private charter without settling its obligations?
- Was there an under-the-table understanding between government officials and Fiji Airways?
- Or is Mausio exaggerating government involvement to deflect liability?
Without documented agreements, Mausio’s claims remain allegations but serious ones that deserve scrutiny.
From Catwalk to Cockpit: A Risky Pivot
Mausio proudly reminds followers of his background: designer for House of Mausio, engineer by trade, and a “dreamer” willing to take bold risks.
But his Facebook account of the saga shows textbook project mismanagement:
- Late contracts signed weeks before departure.
- Unsecured financing dependent on full passenger payments and future bookings.
- Reliance on Pacific churches’ goodwill for multi-year deals without formal commitments.
- Absence of financial transparency while already promoting 2024, 2025, and 2026 charters.
The result? A high-stakes gamble that collapsed spectacularly when real-world geopolitics intervened.
The “Martyr” Narrative
Mausio closes his posts on a defiant, almost spiritual note:
“I’ve been called a conman, dragged online, driven into depression, even close to suicide. But my faith grew stronger. I learned that taking risks will always draw critics, but I’d rather fail boldly than die asking ‘what if?’”
But behind the motivational soundbites, Mausio’s Facebook saga inadvertently raises serious red flags:
- Potential misrepresentation to passengers and partners.
- Possible unpaid obligations to Fiji Airways and creditors.
- Alleged government freeloading on a private charter deal.
Fijileaks Verdict
Michael Mausio may see himself as a visionary entrepreneur derailed by war, government politics, and unpaid clients. But his own posts reveal a different story: a project built on thin contracts, overextended promises, and shaky financing, now buried under lawsuits and finger-pointing.
Until Mausio produces audited figures, signed agreements, and proof of government liability, his “full story” looks less like a heroic tale and more like a $10K pilgrimage dream gone spectacularly wrong.
From Fijileaks Archive, 11 February 2024
A Deed of Forbearance arrangement is a critical aspect of loan agreements that holds great relevance for borrowers facing financial challenges or default. It refers to an agreement between the lender and borrower that grants an extension and temporary relief to the borrower in fulfilling their repayment obligations. In essence, when a borrower encounters difficulties in making timely payments or faces imminent default, a forbearance arrangement comes into play. Rather than immediately initiating legal actions or enforcing penalties, the lender and borrower negotiate and establish a forbearance agreement. This agreement provides the borrower with additional time and flexibility to address their financial situation.
Below, the previous Deed of Forbearance
From Fijileaks Archive, 15 Febraury 2024
