South Malaita Island
| Native name: Maramasike | |
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 South Malaita Island
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| Geography | |
| Location | Pacific Ocean |
| Archipelago | Solomon Islands |
| Area | 480.5 km2 (185.5 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 518 m (1,699 ft) |
| Administration | |
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Solomon Islands
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| Demographics | |
| Population | 12,967 (2009) |
Brief Information on First settlers:
The original history of Mwalamwaimwei(Small Malaita) is rooted way back from the wave of migration, as the first settlers on the land to reach on the coastal shores of Mwalamwaimwei, discover the land and its heritage. The flow of first settlers explore the land mass and settle on their respective areas within the islands. The historical facts and identity of people in Mwalamwaimwei proves by the cultural setting and practices. The prove of the first people to discover the island of Mwalamwaimwei are traditional equipped with the cultural practices, norms and historical theories. The migration goes like the recycle process such as; 1st Stage of movement:- people arrive settle on the coastal zone and move up to the highlands. 2nd Stage of movement: revolution takes place in the highlands and people move down to the coastal zone again.
Family and Culture: The cultural setting in South Malaita, is based on the chiefly system which was inherited way back in history. The island is subdivided according to kingdom (Iola) and the division of each kingdom is done by the council of chief in the past during the pre-colonial era and later during Ma'asina Ruru Movement. High Chief: The ruling chief in South Malaita are those upper-hand people that inherit the chiefly bloodline and right to govern and rule each (Iola). The Ououinemauri is the elect high chief chosen to govern and administer the council of Chief around Small Malaita. The kingdom (Iola) exist in Mwalamwaimwei are subdivided by its boundary and territory with the chain of people who settle according to the tribes and clans across the island. Each Iola is governed by their chief( whether 2,3 or 4 chief) is setup in the kingdom based on their status in the Iola.
- These are the Iola exist in Mwalamwaimwei(South Malaita) - From: Apa iesi- To Apa ia 1. Iola Hailadami (Hailadami Paine & Hailadami Mwaimwei) 2. Iolairamo (Iolairamo paine & Iolairamo mwaimwei) 3. Iola Hoasiteimwane (Iola Raha) 4. Iola Roasi 5. Iola Apuilalamoa 6. Iola Korutalau (Korutalaupaine & Korutalaumwaimwei) 7. Iola Louatowa (Haitataemwane) 8. Iola Ueniusu (Ero ueniusu) 9. Iola Ououmatawa
Other Iola in South Malaita located within and share the same boundary with each other especially the migrants or settlers who just settle and exist as small Iola.
Language: The main language spoken by the South Malaita people are categorized into 3 main dialects! - Sa'a dialect- widely spoken by 75% of the population of South Malaita. - Tolo (mix areare) dialect- is spoken by 20% of the population. - Lau dialect- is spoken by 5% of the people.
South Malaita Island, also known as Small Malaita and Maramasike for Areare speakers and Malamweimwei known to more than 80% of the islanders, is the island at the southern tip of the larger island of Malaita in the eastern part of the Solomon Islands. It is called "small" to distinguish it from the much larger mainland. It is now 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. The administration included the collection of taxes from the islanders. During the colonial days, the island was divided by the colonial government and missionary establishments into the Asimeuri, Asimae, and Raroisu'u districts. Away from Malaita, most people from "Small" or "South" Malaita usually just say the word "South", everyone knows what they mean.
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Wikipedia