Tanoa Visawaqa

Ratu Tanoa Visawaqa (pronounced [βisaːˈɰaːŋɡa]) (died on 8 December 1852) was a Fijian Chieftain who held the title 5th Vunivalu of Bau.

With Adi Savusavu, one of his nine wives, he was the father of Ratu Seru Epenisa Cakobau, who succeeded in unifying Fiji with the help from British missionaries and the crown into forming the contemporary Fiji today.

The son of Ratu Banuve Baleivavalagi, 3rd Vunivalu of Bau[2] and his second wife, Roko Lewasaki.

The idea of a Tui Viti was conceived by the British in their effort to solidify the collateral for the payment of a debt in the burning of a US privateer at Nukulau during the reign of his son Seru.

As the animosity intensified, Ratu Tanoa was forced into exile, after his failed exploits to the highlands in effort to claim the priced baton only to be captured in nadovu in the late 1700 before been exiled firstly on Koro Island and then in Somosomo on Taveuni, where he remained until his son, Ratu Seru Epenisa Cakobau led a his families tradition of coup in 1837, reinstalling his father as Vunivalu until his death in 1852, whereupon Cakobau inherited the title.