South Malaita Island

South Malaita Island
Native name:
Maramasike
South Malaita Island is located in Solomon Islands
South Malaita Island
South Malaita Island
Geography
LocationSouth Pacific Ocean
ArchipelagoSolomon Islands
Area480.5 km2 (185.5 sq mi)
Highest elevation518 m (1699 ft)
Administration
ProvinceMalaita
Demographics
Population12,967 (2009)

South Malaita Island is the island at the southern tip of the larger island of Malaita in the eastern part of Solomon Islands.[1] It is also known as Small Malaita and Maramasike for Areare speakers and Malamweimwei for more than 80% of the islanders. The island is referred to as Iola Raha. It is called "small" to distinguish it from the much larger sibling. It is part of Malaita Province. South Malaita came under effective control of the colonial administration after the Solomon Islands was declared a British Protectorate in 1893.[2] During the colonial days, the island was divided by the colonial government and missionary establishments into the Asimeuri, Asimae, and Raroisu'u districts.

  1. ^ "Malaita Island". Solomon Islands Historical Encyclopaedia 1893-1978. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  2. ^ "Historical Photographs of Malaita". University of Queensland. Retrieved 20 May 2014.