Tui Nayau
Encyclopedia
Tui Nayau is the title held by the Paramount Chief of the Lau Islands
in Fiji
and is synonymous with the title holders over lordship of these islands. When translated Tui Nayau means Lord of Nayau, an island north of Lakeba
, the latter accepted by many to be the chiefly island in the Lauan archipelago. Prior to being installed as Tui Nayau, the claimant must first be confirmed upon the decision of the noble households making up the Vuanirewa
clan and then installed Sau
or High Chief of Lau. Not every Sau has been installed Tui Nayau as several have not held office long enough to be installed to it.
. Prior to merging with Lakeba under the Vuanirewa dynasty in the mid 1700’s Nayau was previously within the Moala
sphere of influence. At the time the Moala Group was also an independent state and not yet subject Lakeba, having greater affiliations with Bau. This would later change in the 19th century, with the conquest of the Moala Group by Ma’afu and its merging with the Lau State, which it still remains with today.
The earliest oral records suggest that the progenitor of the leading family of Nayau stemmed from the Tui Naosara, son of Kubunavanua, celebrated chief and folk hero of Moala. Tui Nasoara is said to have settled on Nayau, claiming it as his own and thus can be assumed to be the first holder of the title, Tui Nayau. He eventually had two sons, Buavaroro and Kalouyalewa, who upon reaching adulthood removed themselves to Lakeba. Buavaroro in time returned to Nayau and succeeded to his father’s title. The younger brother Kalouyalewa, however, remained on Lakeba and married into the island’s principal chiefly families. From one wife, Sivoki, a member of Cekena, the dynasty then holding the title Sau, he had a son Delaivugalei and from his second wife, Tagiamarama, he had another son, Qoma. Each of these sons would eventually play a crucial role in enabling the Vuanirewa dynasty to succeed to the titles Roko Sau and Tui Nayau in time.
Delaivugalei in his adult years sailed from Lakeba, married into the chiefly family in Vuna on Taveuni
and returned with his wife, Adi Vulase to settle back in Nayau. Delaivugalei’s lineage and his marriage, as the original settlers on Lakeba came from Vuna was to strengthen their offspring Niumataiwalu
’s later claim to Sau and his descendants succession to Tui Nayau.
With the demise of Buavaroro, second Tui Nayau, his son Maseikula succeeded him, which in turn was succeeded to by his son Vukinavanua. It is at this point that history of the Tui Nayau title takes an interesting turn, as the eventual successor to Vukinavanua was Niumatawalu’s son, Rasolo and not his own. According to tradition at this time Niumatawalu had relocated to Lakeba and was recognised as a ranking chief of the Lakeba state. Oral history further records an interesting story where Niumataiwalu sent emissaries to escort his cousin Vukinavanua to Lakeba, indicating the younger branch deferring to the older. Vukinavanua, however is recorded to have felt too old and weak to undertake the venture and instead sent the Katonisau (basket containing the Nayau chiefly regalia) which remained with Niumataiwalu’s branch. This gesture is significant as it suggests a symbolic transference of Vukinavanua’s rights to Niumatawalu’s line.
can be assumed to have followed with the conquest of Lakeba by the Levuka people from Bau and supplanting the supremacy of the Cekena dynasty in the Lakeba State with a dictatorship under the heavy hand of the Levuka peoples’ leader, Codro. Before this occurred, Niumatawalu’s surviving sons had fled and sought refuge with their relatives on Nayau due to their brothers, Uluilakeba I
, jealousy.
It was during this exile on Nayau that Rasolo
, Niumataiwalu's son, setting up their family foundations near a Rewa (Cerbera manghas) tree, that the name Vuanirewa
comes into existence. Meaning the “Fruit of the Rewa” this emblem came to signify the current ruling dynasty of Lau and descendants of Niumatawalu. With the passing of Vukinavanua, an ensuing dispute amongst the Nayau nobles over who should succeed him arose. Here according to oral history, the high priest on the island intervened by taking all claimants to the top towering cliffs called Delaiwawa and indicated that the only one to leap from the cliff and live would be worthy to succeed to the title. It is here that Rasolo enters into legend, as he is the only one who takes up the challenge, leaps and survives; his fall broken by vines and the branches of a tree below. This feat is still commemorated symbolically in the installation ceremony of the Tui Nayau, whereby the ceremony takes place in Maumi, an area of flat ground resting under the Delaiwawa cliffs.
It is from this point forward that the title Tui Nayau becomes synonymous with the Vuanirewa dynasty and Rasolo’s descendants. Installed as Tui Nayau, Rasolo was then approached by the Lakeba people to free them from Codro’s tyrannical rule. It is said Rasolo allowed himself to be approached three times before agreeing to their request. He and his brother Matawalu
then lead an army with supporting Lakeba forces which routed and expelled Codro and the Levuka people. With this triumph Rasolo was brought over from Nayau and installed as Roko Sau, in which the whole of Lakeba took part. Oral record shows during the installation he was given dominion over all the lands and people of these lands making up the Lakeba State, he in turn straightaway gave the land back to the people so that they could do what was required for the Sau.
In order to mitigate further attempts of invasion by the Levuka people, he sought reconciliation with them and sent the Tui Tubou to organise their return from Oneata. Land was given to them and Codro’s son, Ramalo, was bestowed with the hereditary title Daulakeba or Chief Navigator to the Sau. This gesture was a sound strategy as it guaranteed peace through the remaining period of his reign. Rasolo upon his death was succeeded by his brother, Matawalu, who is stated to have hated his brother’s wife, Laufitu
’s people, the Tongans. He removed himself to Bau for a long period, allowing for his nephew Dranivia
, son of Uluilakeba I to seize power. Matawalu upon hearing this returned to Lakeba, reasserted his authority, whilst his nephew fled to Nayau. This point takes a dramatic and dark turn in the history of the Vuanirewa as Malani
, Rasolo’s son concerned with the anti-Tongan attitude of his uncle and fear for his mothers people well being, took the opportunity of Dranivia’s expulsion to lead a coup that lead to kin slaying and the death of Matawalu. Matawalu’s death again heralded Dranivia’s return, but his attempt at taking Lakeba was thwarted, with the support of Malani’s Nayau relative Delailoa
, on whom he bestowed the name Lagonilakeba in gratitude. These events have meant that from that point forward, the noble households, Naivi (which Dranivia led) and Koroicumu (which Matawalu led) of the Vuanirewa dynasty forfeited their rights and can no longer make assertions to the title, Tui Nayau.
From Malani’s reign, the title Tui Nayau has since rotated between his descendants making up the noble house Matailakeba and the descendants of his younger brother Taliai Tupou
, making up the noble household, Vatuwaqa.
, who was installed in 1969 and died in 2004. He belonged to the noble household Matailakeba and his son, Ratu Ratu Finau Mara
is the current heir to this title. Although there was initial speculation that the title might be taken up by a member of the noble household Vatuwaqa, this has since been refuted with the Vuanirewa elders having confirmed Ratu Finau’s candidacy in 2005. No installation date has been confirmed as of 2007. Ratu Mara was the first Tui Nayau to also hold the title Tui Lau
or Lady of Nayau. The most recent Radini Nayau was the Roko Tui Dreketi
, Ro Lady Lala Mara
, wife of Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara
.
1. Tui Nasoara
2. Buavaroro
3. Maseikula
4. Vukinavanua
The title merges with the title Roko Sau
from Lakeba in the person of Rasolo thereafter
Lau Islands
The Lau Islands of Fiji are situated in the southern Pacific Ocean, just east of the Koro Sea. Of this chain of about one hundred islands and islets, about thirty are inhabited...
in Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
and is synonymous with the title holders over lordship of these islands. When translated Tui Nayau means Lord of Nayau, an island north of Lakeba
Lakeba
Lakeba is an island in Fiji's Southern Lau Archipelago; the provincial capital of Lau is located here. The island is the tenth largest in Fiji, with a land area of nearly 60 square kilometers. It is fertile and well watered, and encircled by a 29-kilometer road. Its closest neighbors are Aiwa...
, the latter accepted by many to be the chiefly island in the Lauan archipelago. Prior to being installed as Tui Nayau, the claimant must first be confirmed upon the decision of the noble households making up the Vuanirewa
Vuanirewa
The Vuanirewa is the ruling tribe of the Lau Islands, a scattered group of more than a hundred islands and reefs along the eastern edge of Fiji.- Origins :...
clan and then installed Sau
Sau
SAU may stand for:*Saint Ambrose University*Social Affairs Unit*Southern Adventist University*Southern Arkansas University*Southern Arkansas University Tech*Spring Arbor University*Sindh Agriculture UniversitySau is also the name of:...
or High Chief of Lau. Not every Sau has been installed Tui Nayau as several have not held office long enough to be installed to it.
Origins of the Title
Tui Nayau was originally an independent title referring specifically to the high chief and overlord of the island Nayau, then separate from the Lakeba StateLakeba State
The Lakeba State denotes the original areas of Lau controlled by Lakeba, consolidated by the Cekena Dynasty by the end of the 17th century. This included the following southern Lau Islands...
. Prior to merging with Lakeba under the Vuanirewa dynasty in the mid 1700’s Nayau was previously within the Moala
Moala
Moala is a volcanic island in the Moala subgroup of Fiji's Lau archipelago. Located at , it has an area of . The highest point on the island of Moala, at a maximum elevation of , is called Delaimoala which has rich vegetation and consists of dark thick forest. The population of around 3000 live in...
sphere of influence. At the time the Moala Group was also an independent state and not yet subject Lakeba, having greater affiliations with Bau. This would later change in the 19th century, with the conquest of the Moala Group by Ma’afu and its merging with the Lau State, which it still remains with today.
The earliest oral records suggest that the progenitor of the leading family of Nayau stemmed from the Tui Naosara, son of Kubunavanua, celebrated chief and folk hero of Moala. Tui Nasoara is said to have settled on Nayau, claiming it as his own and thus can be assumed to be the first holder of the title, Tui Nayau. He eventually had two sons, Buavaroro and Kalouyalewa, who upon reaching adulthood removed themselves to Lakeba. Buavaroro in time returned to Nayau and succeeded to his father’s title. The younger brother Kalouyalewa, however, remained on Lakeba and married into the island’s principal chiefly families. From one wife, Sivoki, a member of Cekena, the dynasty then holding the title Sau, he had a son Delaivugalei and from his second wife, Tagiamarama, he had another son, Qoma. Each of these sons would eventually play a crucial role in enabling the Vuanirewa dynasty to succeed to the titles Roko Sau and Tui Nayau in time.
Delaivugalei in his adult years sailed from Lakeba, married into the chiefly family in Vuna on Taveuni
Taveuni
Taveuni is the third-largest island in Fiji, after Vanua Levu and Viti Levu, with a total land area of 435 square kilometers . The cigar-shaped island, a massive shield volcano which rises from the floor of the Pacific Ocean, is situated 6.5 kilometers to the east of Vanua Levu, across the...
and returned with his wife, Adi Vulase to settle back in Nayau. Delaivugalei’s lineage and his marriage, as the original settlers on Lakeba came from Vuna was to strengthen their offspring Niumataiwalu
Niumataiwalu
Niumataiwalu was the founder of the Vuanirewa dynasty, a noble clan of the Lau Islands from which the Tui Nayau is chosen. Niumataiwalu was the son of Delainavugalei, a high ranking noble of the island of Nayau and Lakeba....
’s later claim to Sau and his descendants succession to Tui Nayau.
With the demise of Buavaroro, second Tui Nayau, his son Maseikula succeeded him, which in turn was succeeded to by his son Vukinavanua. It is at this point that history of the Tui Nayau title takes an interesting turn, as the eventual successor to Vukinavanua was Niumatawalu’s son, Rasolo and not his own. According to tradition at this time Niumatawalu had relocated to Lakeba and was recognised as a ranking chief of the Lakeba state. Oral history further records an interesting story where Niumataiwalu sent emissaries to escort his cousin Vukinavanua to Lakeba, indicating the younger branch deferring to the older. Vukinavanua, however is recorded to have felt too old and weak to undertake the venture and instead sent the Katonisau (basket containing the Nayau chiefly regalia) which remained with Niumataiwalu’s branch. This gesture is significant as it suggests a symbolic transference of Vukinavanua’s rights to Niumatawalu’s line.
The Rise of the Vuanirewa Dynasty
The period after the death of Niumataiwalu in Ono-i-LauOno-i-Lau
Ono-i-Lau is a volcanic and coral island in Fiji's Lau archipelago.One of the southernmost of the Lau Islands, it is located at 20.80° South and 178.75° East, and occupies an area of 7.9 square kilometers. It has a maximum elevation of 113 meters. It is 90 kilometers southsouthwest of Vatoa, the...
can be assumed to have followed with the conquest of Lakeba by the Levuka people from Bau and supplanting the supremacy of the Cekena dynasty in the Lakeba State with a dictatorship under the heavy hand of the Levuka peoples’ leader, Codro. Before this occurred, Niumatawalu’s surviving sons had fled and sought refuge with their relatives on Nayau due to their brothers, Uluilakeba I
Uluilakeba I
Uluilakeba I was the second child and eldest son of Niumataiwalu. He succeeded to his fathers title, becoming the second Roko Sau and High Chief of the Lau Islands, upon the latter’s death in Ono-i-Lau. He was the progenitor of the senior and eldest of the four noble households in the Vuanirewa...
, jealousy.
It was during this exile on Nayau that Rasolo
Rasolo
Rasolo was the second son of Niumataiwalu, founder of the Vuanirewa dynasty or noble clan of the Lau Islands in Fiji.-Vuanirewa:Rasolo became the third Roko Sau of the Lau Islands and first installed holder of the title Tui Nayau. According to oral history, when Rasolo and the rest of his family...
, Niumataiwalu's son, setting up their family foundations near a Rewa (Cerbera manghas) tree, that the name Vuanirewa
Vuanirewa
The Vuanirewa is the ruling tribe of the Lau Islands, a scattered group of more than a hundred islands and reefs along the eastern edge of Fiji.- Origins :...
comes into existence. Meaning the “Fruit of the Rewa” this emblem came to signify the current ruling dynasty of Lau and descendants of Niumatawalu. With the passing of Vukinavanua, an ensuing dispute amongst the Nayau nobles over who should succeed him arose. Here according to oral history, the high priest on the island intervened by taking all claimants to the top towering cliffs called Delaiwawa and indicated that the only one to leap from the cliff and live would be worthy to succeed to the title. It is here that Rasolo enters into legend, as he is the only one who takes up the challenge, leaps and survives; his fall broken by vines and the branches of a tree below. This feat is still commemorated symbolically in the installation ceremony of the Tui Nayau, whereby the ceremony takes place in Maumi, an area of flat ground resting under the Delaiwawa cliffs.
It is from this point forward that the title Tui Nayau becomes synonymous with the Vuanirewa dynasty and Rasolo’s descendants. Installed as Tui Nayau, Rasolo was then approached by the Lakeba people to free them from Codro’s tyrannical rule. It is said Rasolo allowed himself to be approached three times before agreeing to their request. He and his brother Matawalu
Matawalu
Matawalu was the son of Niumataiwalu, first Roko Sau of Lau and Uma of Nukunuku. He became the fourth Roko Sau, ruler of the Lau Islands, after the death of his brother Rasolo, but never succeeded to the title Tui Nayau. He had been similarly exiled to Nayau like Rasolo by his elder brother...
then lead an army with supporting Lakeba forces which routed and expelled Codro and the Levuka people. With this triumph Rasolo was brought over from Nayau and installed as Roko Sau, in which the whole of Lakeba took part. Oral record shows during the installation he was given dominion over all the lands and people of these lands making up the Lakeba State, he in turn straightaway gave the land back to the people so that they could do what was required for the Sau.
In order to mitigate further attempts of invasion by the Levuka people, he sought reconciliation with them and sent the Tui Tubou to organise their return from Oneata. Land was given to them and Codro’s son, Ramalo, was bestowed with the hereditary title Daulakeba or Chief Navigator to the Sau. This gesture was a sound strategy as it guaranteed peace through the remaining period of his reign. Rasolo upon his death was succeeded by his brother, Matawalu, who is stated to have hated his brother’s wife, Laufitu
Laufitu
Laufitu was a Tongan-Fijian chieftainess. She was the first wife of Rasolo, who was the third Roko Sau of the Lau Islands and first installed holder of the title Tui Nayau. She was by him the mother of Malani, the seventh Roko Sau and the second to hold the Tui Nayau title of the Vuanirewa dynasty...
’s people, the Tongans. He removed himself to Bau for a long period, allowing for his nephew Dranivia
Dranivia
Dranivia was an 18th century Lauan chief and noble of the Vuanirewa dynasty. He was the third son of Uluilakeba I and last recorded member of the noble household, Naivi, to hold the title Roko Sau of the Lau Islands. He is referred to as an usurper and often oral history does not include hims as a...
, son of Uluilakeba I to seize power. Matawalu upon hearing this returned to Lakeba, reasserted his authority, whilst his nephew fled to Nayau. This point takes a dramatic and dark turn in the history of the Vuanirewa as Malani
Malani
Roko Malani was the eldest son of Rasolo, the first Tui Nayau , and of Laufitu a high-ranking lady of Totoya and Tongan descent. He succeeded to the title Roko Sau, after engineering a successful coup d'état and slaying his uncle, Matawalu, the fourth Roko Sau, in battle...
, Rasolo’s son concerned with the anti-Tongan attitude of his uncle and fear for his mothers people well being, took the opportunity of Dranivia’s expulsion to lead a coup that lead to kin slaying and the death of Matawalu. Matawalu’s death again heralded Dranivia’s return, but his attempt at taking Lakeba was thwarted, with the support of Malani’s Nayau relative Delailoa
Delailoa
Delailoa was the son of Qoma who survived the revenge killing of Niumataiwalu on his father and other siblings. He was saved when his mother's people from Waciwaci in Lakeba, hid him from Niumataiwalu...
, on whom he bestowed the name Lagonilakeba in gratitude. These events have meant that from that point forward, the noble households, Naivi (which Dranivia led) and Koroicumu (which Matawalu led) of the Vuanirewa dynasty forfeited their rights and can no longer make assertions to the title, Tui Nayau.
From Malani’s reign, the title Tui Nayau has since rotated between his descendants making up the noble house Matailakeba and the descendants of his younger brother Taliai Tupou
Taliai Tupou
Roko Taliai Tupou was the son of Rasolo the first Tui Nayau and Radravu of Totoya. He is the younger brother of Roko Malani. He was the 3rd person to be installed to the Tui Nayau title. He is considered the progenitor of the noble household, Vatuwaqa in the chiefly Vuanirewa clan and as such, was...
, making up the noble household, Vatuwaqa.
Succession Rules
In the olden days it appears the title could be claimed by the person considered the strongest, often leaving the door open to violent usurpation. The rules governing succession to the Tui Nayau title when analysed from a historical perspective can be confusing, however the Vuanirewa unwritten house rules on succession tend to follow the following three principles.- The general custom of passing from elder to younger brother until that generation is extinct, then taking the next generation in the same order. Note the term brothers take the traditional Fijian connotation, inclusive of extended family members.
- The tendency to alternate between the two noble households, Matailakeba and Vatuwaqa, with the exclusion of Naivi and Koroicumu
- The tendency to recognise superior nobility of the senior branch. A mothers rank facilitates greater recognition of children within the Vuanirewa.
Installation Ceremony
The installation ceremony of the Tui Nayau, takes place in Maumi, on top of the mountain called Delaiwawa on the island of Nayau. The ceremony is performed by the Vaka-ni-nayau (Master of Ceremonies)and the masi ni vanua of nayau which consists of the leaders from the three villages in the island of Nayau, Narocivo is the chiefly village on the island headed by the village chief Tuinaro and the two leaders from the other villages which are Devobalavu (Salia) headed by Tui Devo, and Liku headed by Tui Liku. This signifies the Vaka-ni-nayau formally bestowing rulership of Nayau to the new title holder. After the ceremony the king designated has a special area to bath in for four consecutive days. The place is called Muaituraga, located close to the village of Narocivo. The Tuinaro reckons that even in the harshest dry conditions of Nayau, the bath never runs dry. This is where the late Tui Nayau Ratu Kamisese Mara and his predecessors bathed in when they were installed as the Tui Nayau.Recent history
The most recent Tui Nayau was Ratu Sir Kamisese MaraKamisese Mara
Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, CF, GCMG, KBE is considered the founding father of the modern nation of Fiji. He was Chief Minister from 1967 to 1970, when Fiji gained its independence from the United Kingdom, and, apart from one brief interruption in 1987, the first Prime Minister from 1970 to 1992...
, who was installed in 1969 and died in 2004. He belonged to the noble household Matailakeba and his son, Ratu Ratu Finau Mara
Finau Mara
Ratu Alifereti Finau Mara is a Fijian lawyer, politician, and diplomat. He is best known as the eldest son of former Prime Minister and President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara. Since December 2001, he has held the official position of Roving Ambassador and High Commissioner, representing Fiji's interests...
is the current heir to this title. Although there was initial speculation that the title might be taken up by a member of the noble household Vatuwaqa, this has since been refuted with the Vuanirewa elders having confirmed Ratu Finau’s candidacy in 2005. No installation date has been confirmed as of 2007. Ratu Mara was the first Tui Nayau to also hold the title Tui Lau
Tui Lau
Tui Lau is a Fijian chiefly title of recent history which was created during the time of Ma'afu and his conquests after Ma'afu was disclaimed as a Tongan Prince by his cousin King George Tupou I. Since the Vuanirewa consider Ma'afu as their own they therefore installed him as the 1st Tui Lau...
Tui Nayau Consort
When the Tui Nayau is traditionally installed, his wife or in the past his senior wife was likewise installed with him and bore the title Radini NayauRadini Nayau
Radini Nayau is the courtesy title given to the wife or chief wife of the Tui Nayau, Paramount Chief of the Lau Islands in Fiji. The bearer of this title is installed at the same time as the Tui Nayau...
or Lady of Nayau. The most recent Radini Nayau was the Roko Tui Dreketi
Roko Tui Dreketi
The Roko Tui Dreketi is the Paramount Chief of Fiji's Rewa Province and of the Burebasaga Confederacy, to which Rewa belongs.-Details on the title:...
, Ro Lady Lala Mara
Lala Mara
Ro Lala, Lady Mara, maiden name Litia Cakobau Lalabalavu Katoafutoga Tuisawau was a Fijian chief, who was better known as the widow of Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, modern Fiji's founding father who served for many years as Prime Minister and President of his country...
, wife of Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara
Kamisese Mara
Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, CF, GCMG, KBE is considered the founding father of the modern nation of Fiji. He was Chief Minister from 1967 to 1970, when Fiji gained its independence from the United Kingdom, and, apart from one brief interruption in 1987, the first Prime Minister from 1970 to 1992...
.
Tui Nayau (Nasoara Dynasty)
The listing below shows the pre-Vuanirewa holders of the title Tui Nayau (16th to early 18th centuries).1. Tui Nasoara
2. Buavaroro
3. Maseikula
4. Vukinavanua
The title merges with the title Roko Sau
Roko Sau
Sau Mai Kedekede is a title held, NOT in tandem with the title tui nayau, by the paramount chief of the Lau Islands in Fiji.-A brief history:...
from Lakeba in the person of Rasolo thereafter
Tui Nayau/Sau Ni Vanua Ko Lau (Vuanirewa Dynasty)
The table below lists the individuals who have held the title of Roko Sau. If the Roko Sau was subsequently installed as Tui Nayau, his order as holder of that title is indicated in parenthesis in the order column, and the background is highlighted.| Order | ' | Reigned | Lived | Notes |
| 1. | Niumataiwalu Niumataiwalu Niumataiwalu was the founder of the Vuanirewa dynasty, a noble clan of the Lau Islands from which the Tui Nayau is chosen. Niumataiwalu was the son of Delainavugalei, a high ranking noble of the island of Nayau and Lakeba.... |
... | ... | Not installed as Tui Nayau. |
| 2. | Uluilakeba I Uluilakeba I Uluilakeba I was the second child and eldest son of Niumataiwalu. He succeeded to his fathers title, becoming the second Roko Sau and High Chief of the Lau Islands, upon the latter’s death in Ono-i-Lau. He was the progenitor of the senior and eldest of the four noble households in the Vuanirewa... |
... | ... | Son of Niumataiwalu; not installed as Tui Nayau. |
| 3. (1) | Rasolo Rasolo Rasolo was the second son of Niumataiwalu, founder of the Vuanirewa dynasty or noble clan of the Lau Islands in Fiji.-Vuanirewa:Rasolo became the third Roko Sau of the Lau Islands and first installed holder of the title Tui Nayau. According to oral history, when Rasolo and the rest of his family... |
... | ... | Son of Niumataiwalu I; first Tui Nayau. |
| 4. | Matawalu Matawalu Matawalu was the son of Niumataiwalu, first Roko Sau of Lau and Uma of Nukunuku. He became the fourth Roko Sau, ruler of the Lau Islands, after the death of his brother Rasolo, but never succeeded to the title Tui Nayau. He had been similarly exiled to Nayau like Rasolo by his elder brother... |
... | ... | Son of Niumatawalu; not installed as Tui Nayau. |
| 5. | Dranivia Dranivia Dranivia was an 18th century Lauan chief and noble of the Vuanirewa dynasty. He was the third son of Uluilakeba I and last recorded member of the noble household, Naivi, to hold the title Roko Sau of the Lau Islands. He is referred to as an usurper and often oral history does not include hims as a... |
... | ... | Son of Uluilakeba I; not installed as Tui Nayau. |
| 6. | Lubati | ... | ... | Son of Niumatawalu; not installed as Tui Nayau. |
| 7. (2) | Malani Malani Roko Malani was the eldest son of Rasolo, the first Tui Nayau , and of Laufitu a high-ranking lady of Totoya and Tongan descent. He succeeded to the title Roko Sau, after engineering a successful coup d'état and slaying his uncle, Matawalu, the fourth Roko Sau, in battle... |
17??-1833 | 17??-1833 | Son of Rasolo. |
| 8. (3) | Taliai Tupou Taliai Tupou Roko Taliai Tupou was the son of Rasolo the first Tui Nayau and Radravu of Totoya. He is the younger brother of Roko Malani. He was the 3rd person to be installed to the Tui Nayau title. He is considered the progenitor of the noble household, Vatuwaqa in the chiefly Vuanirewa clan and as such, was... |
1833–1875 | 17??-1875 | Son of Rasolo Second Tui Nayau . |
| 9. | Tevita Uluilakeba II | 1875–1876 | 18??-1876 | Son of Vuetasau Vuetasau Viliame Vuetasau was the son of Roko Malani, the seventh Roko Sau of Lau and second Tui Nayau and Ciri of Taqalevu. During the reign of his Uncle Taliai Tupou, third Tui Nayau, he was considered heir to the title... , son of Malani; not installed as Tui Nayau. |
| 10. (4) | Eroni Loganimoce Eroni Loganimoce Eroni Loganimoce is a former Fijian cricketer. Loganimoce was a right-arm medium pace bowler.Loganimoce made his first-class debut for Fiji in 1954 against Canterbury during Fiji's 1953/54 tour of New Zealand... |
1876–1898 | 18??-1898 | Son of Taliai Tupou Third Tui Nayau |
| 11. (5) | Alifereti Finau Ulugalala Alifereti Finau Ulugalala Ratu Alifereti Finau was the eleventh Roko Sau of Lau and the fifth Tui Nayau. He was the son of Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba II and Adi Asenaca Kakua Vuikaba, daughter of the Vunivalu of Bau and self styled King of Fiji, Ratu Seru Epenisa Cakobau... |
1898–1934 | 18??-1934 | Son of Uluilakeba II. |
| 12. (6) | Tevita Uluilakeba III Tevita Uluilakeba III Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba III was the 12th Tui Nayau and Sau Ni Vanua of the Lau Islands. He was also the father of the late Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, founding father of the modern nation of Fiji.... |
1934–1966 | 1898–1966 | Son of Alifereti Finau Ulugalala 4th Tui Nayau |
| 13. (7) | Kamisese Kapaiwai Tuimacilai Mara Kamisese Mara Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, CF, GCMG, KBE is considered the founding father of the modern nation of Fiji. He was Chief Minister from 1967 to 1970, when Fiji gained its independence from the United Kingdom, and, apart from one brief interruption in 1987, the first Prime Minister from 1970 to 1992... |
1969–2004 | 1920–2004 | Son of Tevita Uluilakeba III 5th Tui Nayau. |