The Lau Islands (also called the Lau Group, the Eastern Group, the Eastern Archipelago) of Fiji are situated in the southern Pacific Ocean, just east of the Koro Sea. Of this chain of about one hundred islands and islets, about thirty are inhabited. The Lau Group covers a land area of 188 square miles (487 square km). While most of the northern Lau Group are high islands of volcanic origin, those of the south are mostly carbonate low islands. The Koro Sea or Sea of Koro is a sea in the Pacific Ocean lying between Viti Levu to the west and the Lau Islands to the east, surrounded by the islands of the Fijian archipelago. ... High Island is the name of several places in the United States: Communities High Island, Texas Islands High Island (Michigan) High Island (New York) High Island (Connecticut) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... This article is about volcanoes in geology. ... In inorganic chemistry, a carbonate is a salt of carbonic acid. ... A low island is, in geology (and sometimes in archaeology), an island of coral origin. ...

The Lau Islands comprise one of fourteen Provinces in Fiji, with its capital at Tubou, at the southern end of the island of Lakeba. The Province forms part of the country's Eastern Division (which also includes the Provinces of Kadavu and Lomaiviti), and of the Tovata Confederacy, a traditional hierarchy of chiefs from northern and eastern Fiji. Fiji is divided administratively into four divisions, which are further subdivided into fourteen provinces. ... In politics, a capital (also called capital city or political capital — although the latter phrase has an alternative meaning based on an alternative meaning of capital) is the principal city or town associated with its government. ... Tubou is a village on the Fijian island of Lakeba. ... Lakeba (IPA: []) is an island in Fijis Southern Lau archipelago. ... The Eastern Division of Fiji is one of Fijis four divisions. ... Map of Fiji, showing Kadavu to the South of Viti Levu Kadavu is the fourth largest island in the Republic of Fiji, and the largest island in the Kadavu Group, which are comprised of Kadavu, Ono, Galoa and a number of smaller islands. ... The Lomaiviti archipelago of Fiji consists of seven main islands and a number of smaller ones. ... Tovata is one of three confederacies comprising the Fijian House of Chiefs, to which all of Fijis chiefs supposedly belong. ... Ratu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank. ...

History

The Lau Islands

The British explorer James Cook discovered Vatoa in 1774. By the time of the discovery of the Ono Group in 1820, the Lau archipelago was the most mapped area of Fiji. Image File history File links LauIslandsMap. ... Image File history File links LauIslandsMap. ... James Cook, portrait by Nathaniel Dance, c. ... Vatoa (formerly Turtle Island) is an outlier of Fijis Lau Group. ... Chesma Column in Tsarskoe Selo, commemorating the end of the Russo-Turkish War. ... 1820 was a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...

Political unity came late to the Lau Islands. Historically, they comprised three territories: the Northern Lau Islands, the Southern Lau Islands, and the Moala Islands. Around 1855, the renegade Tongan prince Enele Ma'afu conquered the region and established a unified administration. Calling himself the Tui Lau, or King of Lau, he promulgated a constitution and encouraged the establishment of Christian missions. The first missionaries had arrived at Lakeba in 1830, but had been expelled. The Tui Nayau, who had been the nominal overlord of the Lau Islands, became subject to Ma'afu. The Moala Islands are a subgroup of Fijis Lau archipelago. ... 1855 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Enele Maafuatuitoga, commonly known as Maafu, was a Tongan Prince and Fijian chief. ... Lakeba (IPA: []) is an island in Fijis Southern Lau archipelago. ... Liberty Leading the People by Eugène Delacroix commemorates the July Revolution 1830 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Tui Nayau is the title held by the Paramount Chief of the Lau Islands in Fiji and is synonymous with the title holders over lordship of these islands. ...

The Tui Nayau and Tui Lau titles came into personal union in 1973, when Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, who had already been installed as Tui Nayau in 1969, was also installed as Tui Lau. He had inherited the former title from his father, Tevita Uluilakeba III; the latter title had been left vacant from his cousin, Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna, in 1958. Tui Nayau is the title held by the Paramount Chief of the Lau Islands in Fiji and is synonymous with the title holders over lordship of these islands. ... A personal union is a political union of two or more entities that, internationally, are considered separate states, but through established law, share the same head of state —hence also whatever political actions are vested in the head of state, but no (or very few) others. ... 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ... The Right Honourable Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara GCMG KBE CF, (May 6, 1920 – April 18, 2004) is considered the founding father of the modern nation of Fiji. ... 1969 (MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1969 calendar). ... Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna (22 April 1888-30 May 1958) was a Fijian chief, scholar, soldier, and statesman. ... 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The Northern Lau Islands, which extended as far south as Tuvuca, were under the overlordship of Taveuni and paid tribute to the Tui Cakau (Paramount Chief of Cakaudrove). In 1855, however, Ma'afu gained sovereignty over Northern Lau, establishing Lomaloma, on Vanua Balavu, as his capital. Taveuni is the third-largest island in Fiji, after Vanua Levu and Viti Levu, and has a population of around 12,000. ... A tribute (from Latin tribulum, contribution) is wealth one party gives to another as a sign of respect or, as was often case in historical contests, of submission or allegiance. ... The Tui Cakau is the Paramount Chief of Cakaudrove Province in Fiji. ... Cakaudrove is one of fourteen Provinces of Fiji, and one of three based principally on the northern island of Vanua Levu, occupying the south-eastern third of the island and including the nearby islands of Taveuni, Rabi, Kioa, and numerous other islands in the Vanua Levu Group. ... 1855 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Lomaloma tikina - Tikina is a district or in this case a small kingdom of sorts it comprises of 9 villages and one of the key villages is Lomaloma which in early Fijian History was the first town to be settled by the west as it was more friendly to the... Vanua Balavu (IPA: []) is the second largest island in Fijis Lau archipelago (not counting the islands of the Moala Group), and the main island of the Northern Lau Group. ... In politics, a capital (also called capital city or political capital — although the latter phrase has an alternative meaning based on an alternative meaning of capital) is the principal city or town associated with its government. ...

The Southern Lau Islands extended from Ono-i-Lau, in the far south, to as far north as Cicia. They were the traditional fiefdom of the Tui Nayau, but with Ma'afu's conquest in the 1850s, he became subject to Tongan supremacy. Ono-i-Lau is a volcanic and coral island in Fijis Lau archipelago. ... Cicia is a Fijian island of the Lau Group. ... Tui Nayau is the title held by the Paramount Chief of the Lau Islands in Fiji and is synonymous with the title holders over lordship of these islands. ... 1850 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

The Moala Islands had closer affiliation with Bau, Fiji and Lomaiviti than with Lau, but Ma'afu's conquest united them with the Lau Islands. They have remained administratively a part of the Lau Province ever since. The Moala Islands are a subgroup of Fijis Lau archipelago. ... This page meets Wikipedias criteria for speedy deletion. ... The Lomaiviti archipelago of Fiji consists of seven main islands and a number of smaller ones. ...

Culture and economy

Since they lie between Melanesian Fiji and Polynesian Tonga, the Lau Islands are a meeting point of the two cultural spheres. Lauan villages remain very traditional, and the islands' inhabitants are renowned for their wood carving and masi paintings. Lakeba especially was a traditional meeting place between Tongans and Fijians. The south-east trade winds allowed sailors to travel from Tonga to Fiji, but much harder to return. The Lau Island culture became more Fijian rather than Polynesian beginning around 500 BC.[1] However, Tongan influence can still be found in names, language, food, and architecture. Unlike the square-shaped ends characterizing most houses elsewhere in Fiji, Lauan houses tend to be rounded, following the Tongan practice. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Carving from the ridgepole of a Māori house, ca 1840 Look up Polynesia in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Tapa cloth (or simply tapa) is a bark cloth made in the islands of the Pacific Ocean, primarily in Tonga and Samoa, but as far afield as Java, New Zealand, and Hawaii. ...

The island of Vanua Balavu hosts the Yanuyanu Island Resort, built to encourage tourism in what has been a less accessible area of Fiji. An airstrip and a copra port are also located on Vanua Balavu, at Lomaloma. There are guest houses on Vanua Balavu and on Lakeba, the other principal island. Vanua Balavu (IPA: []) is the second largest island in Fijis Lau archipelago (not counting the islands of the Moala Group), and the main island of the Northern Lau Group. ... El Nido, Philippines Tourism is the act of travel for the purpose of recreation and business, and the provision of services for this act. ... Copra drying in the sun Copra is the dried meat, or kernel, of the coconut. ... Lomaloma tikina - Tikina is a district or in this case a small kingdom of sorts it comprises of 9 villages and one of the key villages is Lomaloma which in early Fijian History was the first town to be settled by the west as it was more friendly to the... Lakeba (IPA: []) is an island in Fijis Southern Lau archipelago. ...

The Lau Islands are the centre of the game of Cricket in Fiji. Cricket is the most popular team sport in Lau, unlike the rest of the country where Rugby and Association Football are preferred. The national team is invariably dominated by Lauan players. For the insect, see Cricket (insect). ... Rugby football, often just referred to as rugby, refers to sports descended from a common form of football developed at Rugby School in England. ... Football (soccer) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ...

Notable Lauans

The Lau Islands' most famous son is the late Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara (1920-2004), the Tui Nayau (hereditary Paramount Chief of the Lau Islands) and the founding father of modern Fiji who was Prime Minister for most of the period between 1967 and 1992, and President from 1993 to 2000. Other noted Lauans include Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna (1898-1958), who forged embryonic constitutional institutions for Fiji in the years that preceded independence, the present Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, and Attorney-General Qoriniasi Bale. Given its small population, the Lau Islands' contribution to the leadership of Fiji has been disproportionately large. The Right Honourable Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara GCMG KBE CF, (May 6, 1920 – April 18, 2004) is considered the founding father of the modern nation of Fiji. ... 1920 (MCMXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar) // Events January January 3 - Babe Ruth is traded by the Boston Red Sox to the New York Yankees for $125,000, the largest sum ever paid for a player at that time. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Tui Nayau is the title held by the Paramount Chief of the Lau Islands in Fiji and is synonymous with the title holders over lordship of these islands. ... Ratu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank. ... Father of the Nation is a term used by many countries to describe a political or symbolic leader seen as a founding father of the nation. ... Fiji received its independence in 1970. ... 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... Fiji became a republic in 1987, when Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom formally abdicated as Queen of Fiji, following two military coups led by Lieutenant Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... This article is about the year 2000. ... Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna (22 April 1888-30 May 1958) was a Fijian chief, scholar, soldier, and statesman. ... 1898 (MDCCCXCVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Laisenia Qarase (born February 4, 1941) is the Prime Minister of Fiji. ... Qoriniasi Bale, Attorney-General of Fiji Qoriniasi Babitu Bale is a lawyer and political leader, who is currently Fijis Minister for Justice and Attorney-General, offices he has held on two separate occasions. ...

External links

• Lau group (with map)

v·d·e  Political divisions of Fiji
	Divisions: Central | Eastern | Northern | Western Provinces: Ba | Bua | Cakaudrove | Kadavu | Lau | Lomaiviti | Macuata | Nadroga-Navosa | Naitasiri | Namosi | Ra | Rewa | Serua | Tailevu Dependency: Rotuma Cities: Lautoka | Suva Towns: Ba | Labasa | Lami | Levuka | Nadi | Nasinu | Nausori | Savusavu | Sigatoka | Tavua