# Laucala

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**Laucala** (pronounced lauˈðala) is one of a triplet of small islands that lie to the east of Thurston Point on the island of [Taveuni](/source/Taveuni) in [Fiji](/source/Fiji). The privately owned islands are the site of the Laucala Resort.

The total land area of the main island is 12 km2 (4.6 sq mi). It is 5 km (3.1 mi) long with a maximum width of 3 km (1.9 mi), narrowing to 1.5 km (0.93 mi) in some places. The other two islands in the group are [Qamea](/source/Qamea) several hundred metres to the west and [Matagi](/source/Matagi_Island).

The island is served by [Laucala Airport](/source/Laucala_Airport).

## History

The island was first settled by the Qaraniyaku people, led by their founder Buatavatava Naulumatua. He established Nauluvatu village.[1]

### Sphere of influence

Many islands and villages in the northern Lau islands were under political control or influence by Laucala: the villages of Vutuna, Daliconi and Mavana on [Vanua Balavu](/source/Vanua_Balavu), and the islands of [Naitauba](/source/Naitaba), [Namalata](/source/Namalata), Yacata, [Qelelevu](/source/Qelelevu) and [Cikobia](/source/Cikobia-i-Lau).[1]

Later, the islanders of Vuna (village in [Taveuni](/source/Taveuni)) took over in the Lau islands, replacing Laucala power in theses islands.[1]

### Migration

In 1865, the island of [Naitauba](/source/Naitaba) was sold to Europeans by the Tui Cakau and its inhabitants moved to Laucala. Later, the people of Laucala were displaced to the neighbouring island of [Qamea](/source/Qamea).[1]

### Sale to Dietrich Mateschitz

In 2003 the late [Dietrich Mateschitz](/source/Dietrich_Mateschitz), head of the [Red Bull](/source/Red_Bull) energy drink company, bought the island from [Forbes](/source/Forbes)'s heirs for £7 million.[2]

The resort now includes 25 [bures](/source/Bure_(Fiji)), each unique from one another with differing themes.[3] The projected cost per night ranges from US$7,000 to $36,000.

## References

1. Sayes, Shelley Ann (1984). ["Changing paths of the land: Early political hierarchies in Cakaudrove, Fiji"](http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00223348408572477). *The Journal of Pacific History*. **19** (1): 3–20. [doi:10.1080/00223348408572477](https://doi.org/10.1080/00223348408572477). [ISSN 0022-3344](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0022-3344)

1. Booth, Thomas H. (Oct 26, 2011). ["Travel Adventures - Fiji"](https://web.archive.org/web/20171204061225/http://www.epubbud.com/read.php?g=B486GPP3&p=1). Hunter Publishing, Inc. Archived from [the original](http://www.epubbud.com/read.php?g=B486GPP3&p=1) on 4 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2014.

1. ["red bull co-founder dietrich mateschitz's laucala island resort"](https://www.designboom.com/architecture/red-bull-co-founder-dietrich-mateschitzs-laucala-island-resort-10-12-2013/). Oct 26, 2011.

## External links

- [Official website](https://www.laucala.com/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Laucala](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laucala) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laucala?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.