In 1829, a mixed-Spanish Hawaiian trader, Siaosi Manini,[3] landed in the south of Wallis to fish for sea cucumbers. Manini had previously played a role in chieftaincy wars in Fiji and Samoa by selling guns to rival chieftains and was described as having "Napoleonic" ambitions.[4] He married Takala's daughter.[5]
In 1830, Takala and several Wallisians traveled with Manini to Hawaii, where the merchant recruited a crew to fish for beche-de-mer. According to Hawaiian historian Samuel Kamakau, this was the first time Wallisians were seen in Hawaii.[4] Takala returned to Wallis at the beginning of 1831, to the Nukuatea islet which he sold to Manini in exchange for a variety of trade goods (knives, axes, fabrics and other miscellaneous objects).[6]: 34 Manini and his Hawaiian crew set up a large house on the islet, a workshop for preparing sea cucumbers and around thirty huts to house the workers. A fort with nine guns was also erected.[4] "From then on, the Europeans considered themselves owners of the island in Western fashion and tried to reserve its use to themselves. However, this mode of exclusive possession does not exist in traditional Wallisian society and altercations begin".[6]: 34 The situation quickly degenerated into an armed conflict. This episode is known in Uvean history as Te tau vaihi (the Hawaiian War).[3]
Marina and his men, supported by Takala, attacked the royal residence of Soane-Patita Vaimua Lavelua I, causing several deaths. Takala's goal was to restore his lineage to supremacy over the nobles of Hahake. Takala won, and Vaimu'a was captured and held prisoner in Mu'a.[1] Takala was named Lavelua and "the aristocrats of Hahake [ were ] humiliated and reduced to servitude" . The reign (qualified by Sophia Chave-Dartoen as a "usurpation" ) came at an unstable period when the nobles of Hahake were consolidating their hegemony.[1]