The first time Cynthia Ambalal landed on water; the world went silent. The hum of the engine, the crash of the waves - all of it melted into a moment of weightlessness. As the seaplane kissed the ocean’s surface, she felt, for the first time, the sheer magic of flight beyond the runway. It was, as she describes it, “surreal.” But surreal doesn’t quite capture the scope of Cynthia’s journey - from the lounge at Kokomo Private Island to the cockpit, and ultimately, into the history books as Fiji’s first female seaplane pilot.
Cynthia’s fascination with flight was seeded in childhood, nurtured by the stories and achievements of her brother, himself a pilot. “Seeing his journey and hearing about his experiences sparked curiosity and admiration in me for aviation from a young age,” she recalls. Yet her path to the skies was anything but straightforward.
In 2020, she enrolled in Pacific Flying School, dedicating the next two years to mastering the rigours of ground school and flight training. By 2022, she had her wings - on paper. In practice, the sky was still out of reach. “After completing my training, there weren’t many job opportunities available,” she admits. The industry, like the rest of the world, was still reeling from the aftershocks of a pandemic. With limited options, she took an unexpected detour: a Guest Servicing Agent role at Kokomo Private Island.
At first glance, the job had nothing to do with aviation. But Cynthia, ever the pilot at heart, knew that proximity to flight - any flight - was better than none. “I never imagined myself as a floatplane pilot. All I knew was that I desperately wanted to fly any chance I got.” And as fate would have it, Kokomo’s private airstrip and fleet of seaplanes held more promise than she anticipated.
The transition from hospitality to aviation was, like all great career pivots, equal parts serendipity and sheer determination. The first step? Curiosity. Cynthia started joining empty seaplane flights, asking questions, absorbing knowledge, and inching closer to the cockpit with every water landing. “It wasn’t until I experienced that first landing that my interest truly took off. The feeling was unforgettable - I still think about it to this day.”
Her persistence did not go unnoticed. The team at Kokomo saw her potential, encouraging her to pursue a float rating - an essential qualification for seaplane pilots. It was a leap of faith, one that required her to unlearn and relearn, to swap the predictability of runways for the shifting tides of the ocean. “Transitioning from a ground role to flying passengers was both challenging and rewarding,” she says. “But most importantly, it was an entirely new experience, and that excited me the most.”
Yet, despite her passion, Cynthia wasn’t immune to self-doubt. “One of the biggest challenges I faced was feeling like I wasn’t good enough compared to the other pilots. Many of them had significantly more experience than I did, and as someone fresh out of flying school with no floatplane experience, it was intimidating.” There were moments of hesitation - radio calls that felt daunting, decisions she second-guessed - but she kept showing up. “I had to remind myself that everyone starts somewhere, and the only way to gain experience is to keep learning and putting in the effort.”
Mentorship played a crucial role in her ascent. “My brother was a huge inspiration, but I also had pilots at Kokomo who were generous with their time and knowledge. They allowed me to experience the craft in a way I never would have otherwise.” And then, of course, there was the defining milestone - the moment she officially became Fiji’s first female seaplane pilot. “It was both an honour and a responsibility,” she says. “It reminded me that breaking barriers is possible, even in a male-dominated industry.”
Today, Cynthia’s days are a symphony of flight plans, ocean breezes, and the ever-present hum of the seaplane’s engine. “Every day feels like a new adventure,” she says. “I learn something new, whether it’s refining my skills as a pilot or gaining a deeper understanding of the industry.” And while the thrill of flying never fades, it’s the people - the team at Kokomo, the guests she ferries to paradise - that make the experience truly special. “The work environment here is incredible. My colleagues have been so supportive, and that sense of camaraderie makes coming to work something I genuinely look forward to.”
For Cynthia, the sky is no longer the limit - it’s just the beginning. “The journey might not always be easy, and life often doesn’t go according to plan. But that’s okay. Stay focused, be patient, and trust that persistence will pay off.” Her advice to aspiring pilots, particularly young Fijian women? “Keep believing in yourself and manifest those dreams into reality.”
At Kokomo, where the horizon blurs between sea and sky, Cynthia Ambalal is proof that sometimes, the best flights take off from the most unexpected places.
