 Born Popi Epeli Senioli, he was the son of Josefa Celua, who was the third son of the Tui Viti Seru Epenisa Cakobau and Litia Samanunu, Ratu Popi inherited the title from his cousin, Penaia Kadavulevu in 1914.Like his predecessor, Ratu Popi was a parliamentarian in the Legislative Council of Fiji.After his death in 1936, it is argued that his eldest son Tevita Naulivou inherited the title of Vunivalu, after whom it transferred to another son, George Cakobau.