In 1781 right off the coast of Longomapu, it was Finau Fisi in his double hulled war canoe the Talito'a who met the Spaniard explorer Don Francisco Antonio Mourelle the first European to discover Vavaʻu.

With his supplies depleted and sailing the last three days without water it was by luck Don Francisco Antonio Mourelle and his crew found the inlet passage to the middle of the main island.

In his journal Don Francisco Antonio Mourelle wrote of the great size of the 10 double hulled war canoes that encircled his ship as they anchored off the coast of Longomapu.

Vaimalō's current general population is made up mainly of Naufahu Mapilitoaʻs immediate descendants, relatives, and friends from Niue, Fiji, Samoa, and Solomon Islands.

This made him very popular with the common people but viewed by his father Fīnau Fisi and his uncle the King as not only unforgivably and deeply disrespectful but hindering lasting peace.

For these reasons and with the blessing of his brother and chief advisor Fīnau Fisi, in 1808, the King concocted and carried out the legendary and tragic sinking canoes incident off the coast of Makave.

With Finau Fisi inconspicuously absent, the highest ranked and most influential of opposing chiefs and warriors including Naufahu were invited to a great feast and royal kava ceremony hosted by the King in Makave.

When the V.L.A went into effect in 1849, His Majesty George Tupou I meticulously and cleverly persuaded countless Nobles or “ʻEiki” of Vavaʻu to accept the new V.L.A, especially those who stood to lose entire estates and land in accordance to the re-distribution ordinances of the new Vava'u Code.

The prestigious position and title with its implied significance did just that, Tapueluelu permanently moved out of Vaimalō and made Neiafu his new home, now the newly established and bustling capital city of Vavaʻu.

Tapueluelu was not the only child of Avala-ʻae-tau that permanently moved out of Vaimalō, in 1878, Lesieli Afu Haʻapai married Siaosi ʻUlu-ki-vaiola who was the 6th Tuita, and made ʻUtungake, Vavaʻu her new home.