Ratu George Cokanauto Tuisawau (18 August 1901 – 14 September 1961) was a Fijian chief and politician. He was Roko Tui of Rewa from 1936 until 1961,Jonathan Fraenkel & Stewart Firth (2007) From Election to Coup in Fiji: The 2006 Campaign and Its Aftermath, ANU E Press, p219 and spent two decades as a member of the Legislative Council.
Biography Tuisawau was on 18 August 1901 in Rewa to Lutunauga Bativuaka Tuisawau and Adi Teimumu Vuikaba. He was educated at the Queen Victoria School.Who's who in New Zealand 1951, p234 In 1921 he started working as a clerk and interpreter, before being moving to Levuka in 1925. In 1926 he married Asenaca, with whom he had two daughters, He later married Flora Black, with whom he had a son, and Miliakere Lewavaro, with whom he had another daughter.Roko Tui Dreketi World of Royalty In 1928 he moved to Ba, and later in the year started working for the Secretariat for Fijian Affairs.
Tuisawau was appointed Roko Tui of Rewa in 1936, succeeding Joni Mataitini, who had died two years previously.Picturesque Native Ceremonies Mark Installation of Fijian Official Pacific Islands Monthly, May 1936, pp58–59 He also became Roko Tui Dreketi, succeeding his father. In 1936 he was nominated by the Great Council of Chiefs as a potential member of the Legislative Council,Fijian Chiefs Would Hand Over Land to Government Pacific Islands Monthly, November 1936, p63 and was selected by the Governor to join the council,Fiji's Legislative Council Pacific Islands Monthly, July 1937, p63 going on to spend two decades in the body.
During World War II, he commanded the First Docks Company of the Fiji Labour Corps, serving in the Solomon Islands. He also served in the Executive Council during 1946, 1948 and 1953.Fiji's Legislative Council at work Pacific Islands Monthly, February 1946, p33Fiji Executive Council Pacific Islands Monthly, August 1948, p13Colonial Office, The Church House, S.W.1. The London Gazette, 3 July 1953 He was made an OBE in the 1951 New Year Honours.Pacific recipients of birthday honours Pacific Islands Monthly, January 1951, p101
Tuisawau died on 14 September 1961 at the age of 60.Fiji Royal Gazette 1961, p368Deaths of islands people Pacific Islands Monthly, October 1961, p141 His daughter Lala succeeded him as Roko Tui of Rewa.
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