04/07/2025
🌱 The Rewa Plant (Vunirewa) from Verata 🌱
▪️A significant part of Nayau’s early settlement story is marked by the planting of the Rewa plant, brought from Verata, Ucunivanua by Tuiwai, the leader of the first group to settle on the island. This plant was placed on a hill above Vuinayau, a site that later became known as Maumi—the sacred ground where the Tui Nayau (or Sau Tabu) is traditionally installed to this day.
Over time, the Rewa plant—also called Vunirewa—came to hold deep cultural meaning. It is not only a reminder of Nayau’s ancestral links to Verata, but it also gave rise to names that carry the island’s chiefly legacy. The Tui Nayau family are known as the Vuanirewa, meaning fruit of the Rewa, while the Matua or elders of Nayau are referred to as the Vunirewa, meaning the Rewa plant itself. The Vunirewa remains a sacred symbol in the chiefly tradition and identity of Nayau.
📌The First Settlers of Nayau
Tuiwai, his wife Vadra, and their group departed from Verata and first landed on Vatuvara, where one of their companions, Koroibukavesi, disembarked. They continued sailing until they arrived at the eastern side of Nayau, anchoring at a place now called Naikelekele, which commemorates the act of landing or “kele.”
As they looked for a place to settle, they moved inland and built their first homes on a hill using uci plants, calling it Naisauci. Eventually, they moved uphill and established themselves at a place they named as Vuinayau, which later gave its name to the island—Nayau.
Tuiwai had two children born in Vuinayau: Duvunisaqa and Dovi. After his passing, Duvunisaqa became the leader. He married a woman from Seturaga and had four children: Ralovo, Rasaisai, Damanukula, and Qilainivanua.
As the settlement expanded, Qilainivanua and some other villagers were sent to the southern part of the island ("Babaceva") where they established Devobalavu. At that time, three major clans were established in Vuinayau:
♻️Vuinayau – for Duvunisaqa and Ralovo
♻️Wailoli – for Rasaisai
♻️Butonivanua – for Damanukula
Due to population growth, the people moved to Korovesi, near Maumi. However, the land was not fertile (Dravuisiga) so they moved again and established Nakorovatu.
📌Arrival of the Second Group - Beginning of the Tui Nayau Title
While the people were living in Nakorovatu, a second group arrived on Nayau. This group, also from Verata, Ucunivanua, was led by Tuivanuakula and his wife Digelegelenavanua. After first travelling to Moala, they eventually landed on the northern coast of Nayau at Nabuni (now Lawaki), and later came ashore at Muaituraga—a place later used as the bathing site for the Tui Nayau after installation.
Duvunisaqa welcomed them and brought Tuivanuakula’s group to Nakorovatu, placing them under the Mataqali Butonivanua. After Duvunisaqa’s death, Tuivanuakula was chosen as leader and was given the title Tui Naosara. His installation took place at Maumi, beside the same sacred Rewa plant that had been planted by Tuiwai years earlier.
By this time, Tuivanuakula relocated his people again—this time to the island’s highest point, and named it Delaiwawa—since Tuivanuakula was asked to wait out his time to lead in Verata after his victory at the "Cici Turaga" - marking a new phase in Nayau’s chiefly leadership and the continuing legacy of the Rewa plant.
Source: Maumi - Narocivo, Nayau
