The Vunivalu of Bau title stood empty for 34 years after 1989 because Cakobau's clan could not agree on an heir

On Bau, the Roko Tui Bau were the sacred chiefs and the Vunivalu, "Root of War", were the war and executive chiefs. The Vunivalu Naulivou used musket-armed European beachcombers to extend Bau's power before he died in 1829. Seru Epenisa Cakobau held the title from 1852, styled himself King of Fiji, signed the cession of Fiji to Britain in 1874 and died in 1883. The title does not pass by primogeniture: the Tui Kaba clan chooses from its high-ranking members. Ratu Sir George Cakobau held it from 1957 until his death on 25 November 1989, and it fell vacant. On 9 June 2005 the chiefs of Bau put forward four candidates. On 27 June Adi Finau Tabakaucoro objected that the whole clan should elect the Vunivalu and that Adi Samanunu Cakobau-Talakuli should have been considered. Attempts to agree failed again in 2012 and the process was put on hold. Two of the 2005 candidates died, in 2015 and 2018. In March 2023 Ratu Epenisa Cakobau, a great-great-grandson of Seru Epenisa Cakobau, was installed as Vunivalu Na Tui Kaba on Bau by the president of the Methodist Church of Fiji, with Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka present. He thanked his spokesman for 33 years of service.