South Malaita Island
South Malaita Island is the island at the southern tip of the larger island of Malaita in the eastern part of the 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.
Native name: Maramasike | |
|---|---|
  South Malaita Island | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Pacific Ocean |
| Archipelago | Solomon Islands |
| Area | 480.5 km2 (185.5 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 518 m (1699 ft) |
| Administration | |
Solomon Islands | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 12,967 (2009) |
First settlers
The history of Mwalamwaimwei began with early migrants who settled in the coastal zone and later moved to the highlands. A revolution in the highlands led residents to return to the coastal zone.
Governance
The ruling chiefs inherit the chiefly bloodline and govern each Iola. The Ououinemauri is the elected high chief chosen to govern and administer the Council of Chiefs. The Iola are subdivided according to the tribes and clans across the island. Some Iolas have 2,3 or 4 chiefs.
Iolas
- Korutalau pwaine
- Kalapea
- Hoasiteimwane (Iola Raha)
- Lou aatowa
- Apuilalamoa
- Korutalaumwaimwei)
- Louatowa (Haitataemwane)
- Ueniusu (Ero ueniusu)
- Ououmatawa
- Uenisu Unu
- Roasi
- A'ulutalau
- Iolairamo
- Hailadami
Other Iola in South Malaita are located within and share the boundary with others, organized by settlers.
Language
South Malaita people follow 3 main dialects:
- Sa'a - widely spoken by 75% of the population
- Tolo (mix areare) - is spoken by 20% of the population.
- Lau - is spoken by 5% of the people.
Culture
Mwalamwaimwei culture is based on the chiefly system. The island is subdivided according to kingdom (Iola). The division of each kingdom was done by the council of chiefs (Alahaouou) during the pre-colonial era and later during Ma'asina Ruru Movement.
Residents identify with their extended families and with members of their clan and tribe.
The people practise patrilineal descent. Women played a much lesser role in governance; however, they are equally respected in society.
Dolphin hunting
Dolphin are hunted in Malaita mainly for their meat and teeth, and also sometimes for live capture for dolphinaria. Dolphin hunting is practised by coastal communities around the world; the animals are herded with boats into a bay or onto a beach. A large-scale example is the Taiji dolphin drive hunt, made famous by the documentary film The Cove. The hunt on South Malaita Island is smaller in scale, and is almost exclusively practiced by the Walande and Fanelei peoples.[3] The meat is shared equally between households. Dolphin teeth are used in jewelry and as currency.[4]
References
- "Malaita Island". Solomon Islands Historical Encyclopaedia 1893-1978. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
- "Historical Photographs of Malaita". University of Queensland. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
- Takekawa, Daisuke (2000). Hunting method and the ecological knowledge of dolphins among the Fanalei villagers of Malaita, Solomon Islands (PDF). SPC Traditional Marine Resource Management and Knowledge Information Bulletin No. 12. p. 4.
- Takekawa Daisuke & Ethel Falu (1995, 2006), Dolphin hunting in the Solomon Islands Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine, article retrieved on June 21, 2008.
