Tui Lau
| Nobility of Fiji |
|---|
| Titles |
| Institutions |
| Confederacies |
| Rotuman Traditional Leadership |
Tui Lau is a Fijian chiefly title of recent history which was created by the Vuanirewa Clan of Lakeba with the endorsement of Tui Nayau during the time of Ma'afu and his conquests.
=A Brief History
Ma'afu was disclaimed as a Tongan Prince by his cousin, King George Tupou I. The Vuanirewa Clan of the Lau Islands considered Ma'afu one of their own and bestowed upon him the title of the first Tui Lau. The title lay dormant until 1938, when the Vuanirewa Clan revived it and conferred it upon Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna with the approval and support of the Tui Nayau, Ratu Tevita Uluiilakeba. Ratu Kamisese Mara, son of Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba, was the last holder of the Tui Lau title.
|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/486094/ratu-tevita-mara-to-confirm-if-he-will-be-next-tui-lau |title=Ratu Tevita Mara to confirm if he will be next Tui Lau |publisher=RNZ |date=16 March 2023 |access-date=16 March 2023}}</ref>
The Installation
The title of Tui Lau is decided by the Tui Nayau .[1][2][3]
Recent history
There has been no bestowal since Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara's time. The current candidates for the title include his only living son, Ratu Tevita Lutunauga Kapaiwai Uluilakeba Mara.
Tui Lau Chart of title holders
| Order | Tui Lau | Reigned | Lived |
| 1. | Enele Ma'afu | 1869–1881 | 1816–1881 |
| 2. | Ratu Sir Josefa Lalabalavu Vana'ali'ali Sukuna | 1938–1958 | 1888–1958 |
| 3. | Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara | 1963–2004 | 1920–2004 |