Mara Kapaiwai - Ratu Mara's Legacy

Ratu Mara's Legacy

Ratu Mara won fame by sailing his canoe to Tonga, an act of unprecedented audacity for a Fijian seafarer. Returning to Fiji with Ma'afu in 1847, he finally fell out with Ratu Cakobau and was forced to take refuge with Qaraniqio of Rewa. He allied with him and other chiefs, including Koroi Ravulo of Vusaradave and Tui Levuka in a formidable coalition dedicated to the destruction of Ratu Cakobau.

He waged guerilla campaigns against Ratu Cakobau until 1859 when he was gulled into surrendering himself in Bau, only to be hanged the next day by order of his cousin, Ratu Cakobau.

The wounds caused by the hanging of Ratu Mara were secretly nursed by his descendants, but it eventually surfaced during the time of his grandson, Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna when he removed himself and his younger brother, Ratu Tiale Vuiyasawa and his sisters away from the Tui Kaba Registration of Births (Vola ni Kawa Bula) to that of the Vuanirewa Registration in Lakeba, Lau under their mother, Adi Litiana Maopa, who was the sister of the Tui Nayau, Ratu Finau.