Nayau
| Nayau | |
|---|---|
| Island | |
 Nayau
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| Coordinates: 17°59′S 179°3′W / 17.983°S 179.050°WCoordinates: 17°59′S 179°3′W / 17.983°S 179.050°W | |
| Country | Fiji |
| Island group | Northern Lau Islands |
Nayau is an island of Fiji, a member of the Lau archipelago. Nearby cities: Suva; Nuku'Alofa;
Coordinates: 17°58'39"S 179°3'13"W.
Nayau, north of Lakeba, is one of the chiefly islands in the Lau Group with a unique and rich history.
History dictated that during the Vota Vanua or Allotment of Land carried out at Ucunivanua, Verata by the patriarch Rokomautu the Ratu mai Verata, the island of Nayau was formally allotted to two powerful chiefs: (1) Tuinaosara, the son of Tuivanuakula (Tuivanuakula was one of the sons of Rovarovaivalu who was a son of Rokomautu. It was Tuivanuakula that had won the famous race of Rokomautu's grandsons at the coast of Walu.); and (2) Tui Devo a powerful chief from Naoco on the coast of Tailevu. These two chiefs have close kinship ties through their ancestors: Tuinaosara through the lineage of Lutunasobasoba; and Tui Devo through Kubunavanua (Lutunasobasoba's younger brother).
Tui Devo sailed first to Nayau, accompanied by a leading warrior of Rokomautu called Batidradra - they were to scout out the island first on the premise that the island may have been inhabited. When Tui Devo and Batidradra arrived, they encountered some descendants of Tuiwai who were already inhabiting Nayau (Tuiwai had been an original passenger of Lutunasobasoba on the Kaunitoni which first landed at Vuda).
Tui Devo and Batidradra subsequently defeated the descendants of Tuiwai over three consecutive wars, which established and confirmed their claim over Nayau and validated the decision from Verata. After Tuiwai's descendants had been subdued, the chiefly delegation of Tuinaosara (who had been waiting at Moala with his relatives) were then notified by Tui Devo to make their way to Nayau.
Tuinaosara arrived at Nayau with his wife Adi Gelegeleavanua (daughter of Daunisai), they had two sons Buivaroro and Kalouyalewa, and a daughter Adi Keletu. They entered Nayau from the western side of the island where the village of Liku is today and eventually sailed around to the north eastern side of the island and resided at the highest mountain on the island called Delainayau, which is called Delaiwawa today. They resided together with a share of Tuiwai's descendants who had been inhabiting that part of the island, and their Yavusa is called Maumi and their village called Narocivo today. From Tuinaosara's lineage originated the ruling chiefly family of the Tui Nayau from then till today. Several generations later and after several tribal wars at Nayau and Lakeba, the Tui Nayau who is a direct descendant of Tuinaosara established his home at Lakeba to rule over Lakeba and Nayau and the entire Lau Group.
Tui Devo and his powerful warrior Batidradra established their home on the eastern coast of Nayau and their Yavusa is called Devobalavu, and village called Salia today. Within Devobalavu is a clan or mataqali called Qalikatolu literally meaning "defeated three times", this clan belongs to the descendants of Tuiwai who had been subdued three times in the original land/settlement wars by Tui Devo. The descendants of Tuiwai were also bestowed the lesser title of Tuira with the role of matanivanua or traditional herald of the Tui Devo - a role they have performed from then up to today.
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