Ratu Epeli's eldest son, Ratu Penaia Kadavulevu inherited the title of Vunivalu, while his second daughter, Adi Moce was the wife of Ratu Alifereti Finau and the grandmother of Fiji's Founding Father, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara.
A Presidential election took place in Fiji on 18 July 2000, to replace Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, who had resigned, possibly under pressure from the Military, during the Fiji coup of 2000.
One of eight villages on Lakeba, it is considered the capital of the Lau Islands, being the seat of the Vuanirewa clan, a powerful chiefly family from which Fiji's longtime Prime Minister and President, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara (1920–2004) and one of Fiji's famous cricketers I. L. Bula (1921–2002), hailed.
Kamisese Mara | Max Mara | Kate Mara | Universiti Teknologi MARA | Mara Liasson | Maasai Mara | Universiti Teknologi Mara | Mara Clara | Mara Carlyle | Mara | Tom O'Mara | Māra Zālīte | Mara Triangle | Mara Region | Mara Maru | Mara (mammal) | Mara Jade | Mara Davi | Maktab Rendah Sains Mara Kota Bharu | John Mara | John Andrew Mara | Thalia Mara | P. J. Mara | Peter Mara | Patrick Mara | North Mara Gold Mine | Mara Yamauchi | Mara McAfee | Mara Lopez | Mara Lake |
Ethnic tensions escalated following the adoption of responsible government in 1967, when Patel's arch-rival, the Lauan chief Ratu Kamisese Mara was appointed Chief Minister on 20 September.
The best-known native of Vanua Balavu is Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, past President and longtime Prime Minister of Fiji, also Laisenia Qarase, Fiji's Prime Minister since 2000, who hails from the village of Mavana.