The first settlers on Nayau Island in Lau lived in Uluitavuwaqa, under the chiefly leadership of Tuiwai and his wife Vadra.
The couple had travelled from Verata in Tailevu with their people.
According to Taniela Qalobulanacagilabakomeli, the traditional bete or priest of the Tui Nayau, this group arrived before Tui Vanuakula.
“Tui Vanuakula came to Nayau with his people and settled at Delaiwawa, the island’s highest rocky mountains which sits on another side of Nayau,” he said.
“Tuiwai and his people remained on their end. When Tuiwai came to Nayau, he brought with him a plant known as the ‘Rewa’ and planted it in the village we now know as Narocivo.
“From this plant and where it was planted, came the chiefly clan known as the ‘Vuanirewa clan’ that now lives in Tubou, Lakeba. They are originally from Nayau and were taken to Lakeba as chiefs.”
Back in those days, he said tribal war was rife and there was a man known as Codro, the son of Daunibau from the island of Lakeba, whom history says was installed as the “Sau” on Kedekede.
Mr Qalobula, as he preferred to be called, said Codro’s rule became harsh which the people of Lakeba didn’t like.
“The people were not able to do anything as Codro ruled as he pleased even against his own people so the people of Lakeba turned to Nayau, asking for our help.
“They came to ask for the help of our Vuanirewa chief so the warriors of Nayau crossed the sea and joined other warriors in Lakeba and they defeated Codro.
“As a result of that, the leadership role on Lakeba was then entrusted with the clan of Vuanirewa and is the noble family from Nayau.”
Mr Qalobula said the Tui Nayau lived in Narocivo Village on Nayau Island but shifted to Lakeba following the victory against Codro.
The Tui Nayau title
Tui Vanuakula, who arrived on the island after Tuiwai and his people, became the first Tui Nayau.
The 45-year-old traditional priest, said Narocivo Village was the first village on Nayau and as the population grew, Tui Vanuakula then sent two sons to start new villages.
“So one started Salia Village and the other Liku, and people have lived there and the population keeps growing until today,” he said.
“The eldest lived in Narocivo Village.
“The Tui Nayau title which was first held by Tui Vanuakula was then passed down to his eldest son Buivaroro and then to Rokorasolo who was Tui Vanuakula’s great grandson.
“Rokorasolo is the son of Niumataiwalu, who is Buivaroro’s eldest son.”
Niumataiwalu, he said, never held the chiefly title of Tui Nayau but he was a chief from the Vuanirewa clan and was known as Roko Niumataiwalu.
This chief was renowned for his ferociousness, battle and was a handsome man that many women admired.
“He usually attracted the women of Bau but he fell in love with a woman from Nairai and they had an extra marital affair which did not go down well with her people because she was married.
“She was Adi Davila, the wife of the Vunivalu or head of the Kubuna confederacy and his people retaliated and killed Niumataiwalu because he had made Adi Davila pregnant.
“Niumataiwalu then visited Ono-i-Lau but by this time, Adi Davila’s husband, the Vunivalu had won the support of chiefs from Ono -i-Lau.”
The Vunivalu, had asked the chiefs of Ono to kill Niumataiwalu.
“So, two chiefs on the island accepted it and one day when Niumataiwalu visited Matokano Village, they held a welcoming ceremony for him.
“During the kava ceremony, no weapon is to be seen in the area, a rule observed those days, so one of the chiefs, Saunikalou hid a war club in a banana stem.
“He told his son to play with the stem during the ceremony and when Niumataiwalu drank the first bowl of kava, Saunikalou grabbed the club and hit his head.
“This didn’t kill Niumataiwalu who fled the scene but was surrounded by the men of Ono leading to his death.”
Niumataiwalu’s sons
Following his death, his three sons all wanted the chiefly position of the Tui Nayau.
Mr Qalobula said the eldest was Uluilakeba, his second son was Rokorasolo and Matawalu was the youngest.
“They all wanted the position and Matawalu argued that he was the best and strongest warrior who won tribal battles but Uluilakeba said he should take it because he is the eldest.
“So the traditional leaders and elders of Nayau met and told the three brothers to jump from Delaiwawa, the highest point on the island and whoever survives, will be the Tui Nayau.
“Then Rokorasolo won this competition as the other two died at the bottom of the cliff and his clan continues to lead today including our current Tui Nayau, Ratu Tevita Mara.”
Tui Nayau holders: Tui Vanuakula, Buivaroro, Rokorasolo, Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba (father of the late Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara), Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara.
