Malaita

Malaita is the primary island of Malaita Province in the Solomon Islands.

It is the most populous island in the entire country. As of 2021, its population was 161,832 people. This number represents more than one third of the national population. Malaita is also the second largest island in the country by area. It follows only the island of Guadalcanal in size. The largest city is Auki, which serves as the provincial capital. Auki sits on the northwest coast near the northern shore of the Langa Langa Lagoon.

The people of Malaita identify themselves based on where they live. Those living near the Langa Langa Lagoon and the Lau Lagoon call themselves wane i asi. This term means "salt-water people." They are distinct from the wane i tolo, or "bush people." These bush people live in the interior of the island. This division shows how the geography of the island shapes its cultures. The island also includes South Malaita Island, which is sometimes called Small Malaita. This smaller island sits at the southern tip of the larger landmass.

The name Malaita has several possible origins and histories. Spanish explorers recorded the name in their logbooks during the 16th century. They first viewed the island from Santa Isabel, where it was known as Mala. Some believe the suffix "ita" was added from the Bughotu word for "up" or "east." In this context, it might mean "there." Different names are used by different groups. For example, ꞋAreꞌare speakers call South Malaita Maramasike. More than 80% of islanders know it as Malamweimwei. Under British control, the name Mala was common, but Malaita is now used for official purposes.

Human history on Malaita began thousands of years ago. Austronesian speakers settled the island between 5,000 and 3,500 years ago. While earlier Papuan speakers reached the western Solomon Islands, there is no archaeological evidence they reached Malaita. The Kwara'ae people have a traditional account of their arrival. They believe a founding ancestor followed a magical staff to the middle of the island. From there, his descendants spread to the lowland edges. The first recorded European sighting occurred on April 11, 1568. A Spanish expedition led by Álvaro de Mendaña saw the island. A pilot named Hernán Gallego explored much of the coast, though not the north side.

In the 1800s, Malaitans were involved in the international labour trade. Many men and women worked as indentured labourers in Queensland, Australia, and Fiji. This period included the era of "blackbirding," which involved illegal recruiting practices. While the labour system was exploitative, it brought new opportunities for education. Some Malaitans, like Joseph Wate and Watehou, learned to read and write in Auckland. Many returning labourers became Christians. This literacy helped them later when they wrote protest letters against deportation. In 1901, the Pacific Island Labourers Act facilitated the deportation of many islanders. However, some stayed and formed the South Sea Islander community in Australia.

British colonial power began to take hold in the late 19th century. Britain defined its interest in the Solomons in 1886. Central government control of Malaita began in 1893. Captain Herbert Gibson declared the southern Solomon Islands a British Protectorate. This move aimed to regulate local warfare and the unfair labour trade. The government established a station in Auki in 1909. They worked to pacify the island by collecting taxes and regulating firearms. This period was marked by tension and violence. In 1927, District Commissioner William R. Bell was killed by a Kwaio. This led to the Malaita massacre, where at least 60 Kwaio were killed.

Following these tensions, a new movement emerged called Maasina Ruru, or "Marching Rule." This movement sought self-determination and united people across different clans and religions. It was highly organized, dividing the island into nine districts. Each district had leaders and custom chiefs called alaha'ohu. Although the British tried to suppress the movement with arrests, it continued underground. Eventually, the movement led to the formation of the Malaita Council. This council became the first instance of local government in the Solomon Islands. Salana Ga'a served as its first president.

Modern Malaita remains a central part of the Solomon Islands. The country gained independence in July 1978. Peter Kenilorea, who was from the ꞋAreꞌare group on Malaita, became the first prime minister. Malaita continues to be a major source of migration. Many Malaitans live in other provinces or in Honiara. Some form large settlements on the island of Guadalcanal. This migration became a focus of the civil war that began in 1999. During that time, the Malaita Eagle Force was formed to protect Malaitan interests. Today, the island continues to develop through various regional missions.