Social life on Rotuma is based in kinship relationships and a strong emphasis on communal sharing, although this value has come under threat by an increasingly money-based economy. The Rotuman term for kinship, kainaga , in its most general sense, denotes common membership in a class.
Descent is bilineal.
Infants and children are cared for by both parents, by grandparents, and by elder siblings. Children circulate freely between households in their vicinity, and are not excluded from adult-centered events. Value emphases are placed on sharing, cooperation, and respecting the autonomy of others. Pineapples, papaya, mangoes, watermelon and oranges are also grown in abundance to supplement the diet. The island is exceptionally fertile and food is generally plentiful.