For these reasons and with the blessing of his brother and chief adviser Fīnau Fisi, in 1808, the King concocted and carried out the legendary and tragic sinking canoes incident off the coast of Makave. A very diabolical act that not only made Finau ʻUlukalala II universally infamous as a cruel and treacherous King, but also and arguably the most brilliant and cunning strategist in the history of Tonga. With Finau Fisi inconspicuously absent, the highest ranked and most influential of opposing chiefs and warriors including Naufahu were invited to a great feast and royal kava ceremony hosted by the King in Makave. Sometimes during the royal kava ceremony the King's warriors in overwhelming numbers suddenly attacked and subdued the seated opposing chiefs and warriors. Most were killed immediately where they sat, some were executed in different areas of the village and the most highly ranked and mightiest of chiefly warriors of which there were six were held down with their hands bound. The six were Naufahu, Talia’uli, Ngāngā, Pupunu, Fanafonua, Pasiaka where they were soon joined by another fearsome warrior the chief Kakahu who refused the King's invitation but was captured at his home which made it seven warriors of the highest order. Of these seven only Fanafonua managed to break free and escape, the remaining six were bound hands and feet, put into old dilapidated leaking canoes that sank right off at Neiafutahi. Even this mass execution didn't bring the lasting peace the King seek for Vava'u but rather a wider division that lasted for another 12 years. In 1820, the King's youngest son and reigning Vava'u King, the Tu'i Vava'u Finau ʻUlukalala IV or Tu'apasi and Finau ʻUlukalala-'i-Pouono finally achieved peace and brought the whole island together with many of his late father's old enemies as his advisers and members of his national council.