South Malaita Island

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South Malaita Island

Native name: Maramasike
South Malaita Island
Geography
Location	South Pacific Ocean
Archipelago	Solomon Islands
Area	480.5 km2 (185.5 sq mi)
Highest elevation	518 m (1699 ft)
Administration
Solomon Islands
Province	Malaita
Demographics
Population	12,967 (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.