[[Image:LauIslandsMap.JPG|thumb| left250px| The Mapa de las islas Lau Islandsdentro de [[Fiyi]].]] ▼Las '''islas Lau''' (tammbiéntambién llamadas '''Grupo Lau''', el '''Grupo del este''', o el '''Archipiélago del este''') son un archipiélago de [[Fiyi]] situado en la zoanazona spetentrionalseptentrional del [[Océano Pacífico]], justo al oriente del [[Mar de Koro]]. De las cien [[isla]]s e [[islote]]s que lo componen apenas treinta están habitados. Ocupa un área de 487 km² y una población de 10.683 habitantes, según el [[censo]] de [[2007]]. Mientras que la mayoría de las islas del norte son [[isla alta|islas altas]] de origen [[isla volcánica|volcánico]], mientras que las del sur son bajas y de [[carbonato]].
Las islas Lau componen una de las catorce [[Organización territorial de Fiyi|Provincias]] de Fiyi, con su capital en [[Tubou]], en el extremo sur de [[Lakeba]]. La provinviaprovincia conbformaconforma la [[División Este (Fiji)|División Este]] (which also includes the Provinces of [[Kadavu]] and [[Lomaiviti]]), and of the [[Tovata Confederacy]], a traditional hierarchy of [[Ratu|chiefs]] from northern and eastern Fiji.
Fueron descubiertas por el explorador [[United Kingdom|británico]] [[James Cook]], quien alcanzó a [[Vatoa]] en [[1774]]. En [[1820]] el archipiélago era el área mejor conocida y mapeada de Fiyi.
== History ==
▲[[Image:LauIslandsMap.JPG|thumb|left|The Lau Islands]]
==Referencias==
The [[United Kingdom|British]] explorer [[James Cook]] reached [[Vatoa]] in 1774. By the time of the discovery of the [[Ono Group]] in 1820, the Lau archipelago was the most mapped area of Fiji.
* [http://books.google.com.fj/books?vid=ISBN0226733580&id=ScuTytmgE6MC&pg=PA75&lpg=PA75&dq=Books+on+the+Lau+Islands&sig=uu7WyocRn2H7G8ZpHpuFDUFNGBo '''Islands of History '''] - Page 75, by Marshall David Sahlins - 1987 - 200 pagespáginas.▼* '''20th Century Fiji ''', editededitado bypor Stewart Firth &y Daryl Tarte - 2001 - ISBN 982-010421-1 .▼* [http://books.google.com.fj/books?vid=ISBN1740591348&id=IMVBrlFiD2EC&pg=RA6-PA237&lpg=RA6-PA237&dq=Books+on+the+Lau+Islands&sig=tb6CTQrOuJaGPZP1fmCbXc3fUkk '''Fiji ''']. -– Pagepág. 237, byde Korina Miller, Robyn Jones, Leonardo Pinheiro – 2003, Published by Lonely Planet Ed.▼
==Enlaces externos==
Political unity came late to the Lau Islands. Historically, they comprised three territories: the [[Northern Lau Islands]], the [[Southern Lau Islands]], and the [[Moala Islands]]. Around 1855, the renegade [[Tonga]]n prince [[Enele Ma'afu]] conquered the region and established a unified administration. Calling himself the ''[[Tui Lau]]'', or King of Lau, he promulgated a [[constitution]] and encouraged the establishment of Christian missions. The first missionaries had arrived at [[Lakeba]] in 1830, but had been expelled. The ''[[Tui Nayau]],'' who had been the nominal overlord of the Lau Islands, became subject to Ma'afu.
* '''Lau Islands ''', Fiji, By [[Arthur Maurice Hocart|A.M Hocart]], [[Bernice Bishop Museum Bulletin]] 62, 1929 ▼
* [http://books.google.com.fj/books?vid=ISBN052126877X&id=uE6zbLTP8a8C&pg=RA1-PA67&lpg=RA1-PA67&dq=Books+on+the+Lau+Islands&sig=t8LWuVNG0MMqpE8epIdmflpp1ew '''Islands, Islanders and the World ''']: Colonial and Post-colonial Experience of Eastern Fiji. By T.P.Bayliss- Smith, Published by Cambridge University Press. ▼The [[Tui Nayau]] and [[Tui Lau]] titles came into [[personal union]] in 1973, when [[Kamisese Mara|Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara]], who had already been installed as ''Tui Nayau'' in 1969, was also installed as ''Tui Lau.'' He had inherited the former title from his father, [[Tevita Uluilakeba III]]; the latter title had been left vacant from his cousin, [[Lala Sukuna|Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna]], in 1958.
* [http://books.google.com.fj/books?vid=ISBN0520232550&id=LUI2fLpxIRwC&pg=RA10-PA344&lpg=RA10-PA344&ots=_0faIs9kq7&dq=Books+on+the+Lau+Islands&sig=ca-smrsKc7aSOeQvbyl3Ny-0gRE '''World Atlas of Coral Reefs '''] - Page 344, by Corinna Ravilious, Mark D. Spalding, Edmund Peter Green, World Conservation Monitoring Centre – 2001, Published by University of California Press ▼
* '''Tovata I & II ''' By AC Reid, Printed in Fiji by Oceania printers Fiji (1990) ▼The Northern Lau Islands, which extended as far south as [[Tuvuca]], were under the overlordship of [[Taveuni]] and paid [[tribute]] to the ''[[Tui Cakau]]'' (Paramount Chief of [[Cakaudrove]]). In 1855, however, Ma'afu gained sovereignty over Northern Lau, establishing [[Lomaloma]], on [[Vanua Balavu]], as his [[Capital (political)|capital]].
The Southern Lau Islands extended from [[Ono-i-Lau]], in the far south, to as far north as [[Cicia]]. They were the traditional fiefdom of the ''[[Tui Nayau]],'' but with Ma'afu's conquest in the 1850s, he became subject to Tongan supremacy.
The [[Moala Islands]] had closer affiliation with [[Bau, Fiji]] and [[Lomaiviti]] than with Lau, but Ma'afu's conquest united them with the Lau Islands. They have remained administratively a part of the Lau Province ever since.
== Culture and economy ==
Since they lie between [[Melanesia]]n [[Fiji]] and [[Polynesia]]n [[Tonga]], the Lau Islands are a meeting point of the two cultural spheres. Lauan villages remain very traditional, and the islands' inhabitants are renowned for their wood carving and [[masi (Fiji)|masi]] paintings. Lakeba especially was a traditional meeting place between Tongans and Fijians. The south-east trade winds allowed sailors to travel from Tonga to Fiji, but much harder to return. The Lau Island culture became more Fijian rather than Polynesian beginning around 500 BC.[http://www.hawaii.edu/oceanic/rotuma/os/schmidt/Schmidt.html] However, Tongan influence can still be found in names, language, food, and architecture. Unlike the square-shaped ends characterizing most houses elsewhere in Fiji, Lauan houses tend to be rounded, following the [[Tongan]] practice.
The island of [[Vanua Balavu]] hosts the [[Yanuyanu Island Resort]], built to encourage [[tourism]] in what has been a less accessible area of Fiji. An airstrip and a [[copra]] port are also located on Vanua Balavu, at [[Lomaloma]]. There are guest houses on Vanua Balavu and on [[Lakeba]], the other principal island.
The Lau Islands are the centre of the game of [[Cricket]] in Fiji. Cricket is the most popular team sport in Lau, unlike the rest of the country where [[Rugby football|Rugby]] and [[Football (soccer)|Association Football]] are preferred. The national team is invariably dominated by Lauan players.
== Notable Lauans ==
The Lau Islands' most famous son is the late [[Kamisese Mara|Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara]] (1920-2004), the ''[[Tui Nayau]]'' (hereditary Paramount [[Ratu|Chief]] of the Lau Islands) and the [[Father of the nation|founding father]] of modern Fiji who was [[List of Prime Ministers of Fiji|Prime Minister]] for most of the period between 1967 and 1992, and [[List of Presidents of Fiji|President]] from 1993 to 2000. Other noted Lauans include [[Lala Sukuna|Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna]] (1898-1958), who forged embryonic constitutional institutions for Fiji in the years that preceded independence, the former Prime Minister [[Laisenia Qarase]] and Attorney-General [[Qoriniasi Bale]]. [[I. L. Bula]] who was a famous cricketer was also from the capital of Lau, Tubou, Lakeba. Recently young leaders like Roko Jonetani Waqavonovono (Pita), Roko Liwaki Uluilakeba, and Jackie Koroivulaono have risen through the ranks. Given its small population, the Lau Islands' contribution to the leadership of Fiji has been disproportionately large.
Regarding Business, many are owned by Lauans. The Lauan Provincial Councils Yatu Lau Limited is a successful enterprise that has sticks, buses, and real estate. HOT BREAD KITCHEN is a franchise also owned by Mere Samisoni a Lauan Lady. Other business persons are Laisa Digitaki, Joji Kata, Sikove Ratabacaca and the Gucake Family.
==References==<!-- Micronesica40:169 [for Aiwa & Nayau articles when they exist]. -->
▲* [http://books.google.com.fj/books?vid=ISBN0226733580&id=ScuTytmgE6MC&pg=PA75&lpg=PA75&dq=Books+on+the+Lau+Islands&sig=uu7WyocRn2H7G8ZpHpuFDUFNGBo '''Islands of History'''] - Page 75, by Marshall David Sahlins - 1987 - 200 pages
▲* '''20th Century Fiji''', edited by Stewart Firth & Daryl Tarte - 2001 - ISBN 982-010421-1
▲* [http://books.google.com.fj/books?vid=ISBN1740591348&id=IMVBrlFiD2EC&pg=RA6-PA237&lpg=RA6-PA237&dq=Books+on+the+Lau+Islands&sig=tb6CTQrOuJaGPZP1fmCbXc3fUkk '''Fiji''']. - Page 237, by Korina Miller, Robyn Jones, Leonardo Pinheiro – 2003, Published by Lonely Planet
==Further reading==
▲* '''Lau Islands''', Fiji, By [[Arthur Maurice Hocart|A.M Hocart]], [[Bernice Bishop Museum Bulletin]] 62, 1929
▲* [http://books.google.com.fj/books?vid=ISBN052126877X&id=uE6zbLTP8a8C&pg=RA1-PA67&lpg=RA1-PA67&dq=Books+on+the+Lau+Islands&sig=t8LWuVNG0MMqpE8epIdmflpp1ew '''Islands, Islanders and the World''']: Colonial and Post-colonial Experience of Eastern Fiji. By T.P.Bayliss- Smith, Published by Cambridge University Press.
▲* [http://books.google.com.fj/books?vid=ISBN0520232550&id=LUI2fLpxIRwC&pg=RA10-PA344&lpg=RA10-PA344&ots=_0faIs9kq7&dq=Books+on+the+Lau+Islands&sig=ca-smrsKc7aSOeQvbyl3Ny-0gRE '''World Atlas of Coral Reefs'''] - Page 344, by Corinna Ravilious, Mark D. Spalding, Edmund Peter Green, World Conservation Monitoring Centre – 2001, Published by University of California Press
▲* '''Tovata I & II''' By AC Reid, Printed in Fiji by Oceania printers Fiji (1990)
* [http://www.pureblue.com.fj/ Cyclopedia of Lau] Illustrated, Publisher Pure Blue Fiji Ltd.
* '''The Lau Islands (Fiji) and Their Fairy Tales and Folklore''' - by T[homas] R[eginald] St. Johnston, Published 1918 by The Times book co., ltd.Original from the University of Michigan, Digitized Dec 15, 2006.
==External links==
* Ethnography of the [http://lucy.ukc.ac.uk/EthnoAtlas/Hmar/Cult_dir/Culture.7857 Lau Islands]
*[http://www.moanasguesthouses.com/ Vanua Balavu Information]
* A Newspaper article with General information on [http://travel.guardian.co.uk/article/2005/feb/12/fiji.guardiansaturdaytravelsection Lau]
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