Alifereti Finau Ulugalala

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Ratu Alifereti Finau (18??-1934) was the eleventh Roko Sau of Lau and the fifth Tui Nayau. He was the son of Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba II and Adi Asenaca Kakua Vuikaba, daughter of the Vunivalu of Bau and self styled King of Fiji, Ratu Seru Epenisa Cakobau. He was a member of the noble household Matailakeba.

His father Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba II would have eventually succeeded to the title had it not been for his premature death. As Alifereti Finau was still a minor, the title was succeeded to by his cousin Eroni Loganimoce, Roko Taliai Tupou’s son.

In 1898 with the death of Eroni Loganimoce, Alifereti Finau’s maternal relative Ratu Penaia Kadavulevu leader of the country at the time, went to Lau and made him Sau ni Vanua and Tui Nayau. The son of Eroni, Ratu Salesi Kinikinilau was also a contending rival to the title, but it is assumed that a possible reason for Ratu Kadavulevu’s eventual selection was due to the notion of dynastic extensions of power, as Alifereti had also married a high ranking lady from Bau. Ratu Finau's wife Adi Ateca Moceiwai is recorded to have been influential in introducing Bauan standards, manners and protocols in Lakeba which in time became dominant.

Ratu Finau was responsible and instrumental in promoting his nephew’s Ratu Lala Sukuna’s education overseas. It is recorded that he levied one ton of copra from every adult male in Lau in order to fund Ratu Sukuna’s education. His intention for this was that he saw the need to groom a powerful and articulate indigenous spokesman in government and in the councils of the nation to combat the increasing aggressive promotion of their own interests by Indians and Europeans. In time his nephew Ratu Sukuna would realize his intentions by becoming one of the most respected leaders of modern Fiji.

Ratu Finau’s patronage for enhancing education amongst his people is perhaps his greatest contribution during his reign. He founded the first school Lau Provincial School in Tubou, Lakeba in 1908, and his policy was to recruit staff from the United Kingdom. Some early pioneering teachers at this school included the famous ethnographer and anthropologist, A. M. Hocart.

Ratu Finau died in Tubou, Lakeba on the 3rd of April 1934 and was succeeded by his son, Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba III