Tavuni Hill Fort
Tavuni has a special history in that it was settled by the Tongan Chief Maile Latamai around 1800 AD.
Fijian history was not recorded by hand but was passed down by word of mouth as ' oral traditions ', from generation to generation. It was in this way that people were able to trace back their ancestors and identify traditional allies and foes. An interview with the descendants of Maile Latamai, recorded by Sepeti Matararaba (Fiji Museum), relates the settlement of Tavuni and gives the backgrounds to ties with people in other areas in Fiji. Following a dispute in the reigning Tui Pelehaki family, the young and powerful Tongan, Maile Latamai, gathered his servants together and left Tonga for Fiji. One account tells how he stopped in Kadavu and Serua before landing at Korotogo, the other recounts him only stopping in Serua before arriving at Korotogo.
At both stopping points his fishermen were sent out to fish, but were then left behind after a hasty departure.
Maile Latamai subsequently left Korotogo and travelled inland to Tavuni, but due to constant tribal warfare in the area, he was forced to keep moving. He travelled on to Cuvu and Yanuca, and left some of his followers behind to occupy the area. On his return to Tavuni he established himself there.
He and his followers were given land at Korokune, Nabaka, Korotogo, Vatukarasa, Nadrala, Nasigarua, Naivikabuta, Nabure, and Vusu.
He asked the Narata tribe for more land and was given Mua i Conua, which he rename Mahevu (newly occupied land in Tongan). Maile Latamai took a wife from Narata Village, from which a daughter - Tupou - was born. Tupou's mother dies when she was still young. Maile was given another wife from the village of Nadrala when it moved to Vunararawai, and a son was born. Maile was survived by his two children, who together with the people of Tavuni formed the Yavusa (tribe) Noitoga, which still exists.
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