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.