Ratu ''Ratu'' () is an Austronesian title used by male Fijians of chiefly rank. An equivalent title, ''adi'' (pronounced ), is used by females of chiefly rank. In the Malay language, the title ''ratu'' is also the traditional honorific title to r ...

'' Epeli Kanakana (died June 2010) was a

Fiji Fiji, officially the Republic of Fiji, is an island country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies about north-northeast of New Zealand. Fiji consists of an archipelago of more than 330 islands—of which about ...

chief Chief may refer to: Title or rank Military and law enforcement * Chief master sergeant, the ninth, and highest, enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force * Chief of police, the head of a police department * Chief of the boat ...

. He held the title of Tui Suva, and was the traditional ruler of the area that includes the city of

Suva Suva (, ) is the Capital city, capital and the most populous city of Fiji. It is the home of the country's largest metropolitan area and serves as its major port. The city is located on the southeast coast of the island of Viti Levu, in Rew ...

, the nation's capital. The title of Tui Suva is only kept within the Naivutuvutu family of the Tokatoka Solia of Mataqali Vuanimocelolo of the Yavusa Vatuwaqa. In 2008 he was involved with a land dispute with the Suva City Council over land occupied by a squatter settlement but claimed by the state. He challenged the state's claim to the land in court, claiming that his lands were taken and held unlawfully by the British Crown. In December 2010 the

High Court of Fiji The High Court of Fiji is one of three courts that was established by Chapter 9 of the 1997 Constitution of Fiji — the others being the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. The Constitution empowered Parliament to create other courts; these ...

ruled against him, finding that native title to the Suva peninsula had been extinguished.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kanakana, Epeli Fijian chiefs People from Suva Year of birth missing 2010 deaths