Makira-Ulawa Province is one of the nine provinces of Solomon Islands. It is mainly made up of the island of the same name, located east of Guadalcanal. The largest city and capital is Kirakira, in the north of Makira. The province is best known for its football club Real Kakamora, which in recent years have become one of the largest clubs in the Oceania Football Confederation.

Geography The main part of the province is Makira Island. The capital is Kirakira.

Makira-Ulawa Province includes Makira (San Cristobal), Ulawa, Uki Ni Masi, Owaraha (Santa Ana), Owariki (Santa Catalina), Pio, Aio, and others.

Makira Island is , being nearly 139 km long by 40 km wide near the centre of the island. Mountains run like a spine down the island's centre: the highest point reaches 1040 metres above sea level, then falls steeply to the sea along its southern shore. Many rivers penetrate the island in roughly parallel lines every two to five kilometres. Makira has more inland swamps—and saltwater crocodiles—than any other island in the Solomon Islands. Its coast is the only part of the Solomons where the rare Olive ridley sea turtle (also known as the Pacific ridley sea turtle) is known to visit and nest.

Because Makira Island was isolated for long stretches of time during periods of high sea level, a wide variety of unique plants and animals evolved. For example, 12 of its 70 resident species of birds are endemic, as are two species of trees, both figs (Ficus cristobalensis and Ficus illiberalis). This uniqueness highlights the importance of preserving Makira's forest habitat.

Makira is also among the most important islands in the country for birds. There are some bird watching spots on the island. At the village of Hauta, situated hundreds of metres above sea level, at the Bauro inland region an established conservation area exists. However, one requires a permission to visit, which can be acquired from the Provincial Office at Kirakira.

Population , the total population was estimated to be 51,587. Makira-Ulawa people are mostly Melanesian and their traditional dances and rituals are still strongly kept, especially in the islands of Santa Ana (Owaraha), Santa Catalina (Owariki), Uki-ni-masi and Ulawa.

On Makira, five languages are spoken: Arosi, Bauro, Fagani, Kahua, and Owa. The Bauro speakers have been considered to be the most isolated and conservative of the Makira groups. The people of Ulawa and Ugi Island speak Sa'a.ethnologue.com

Administrative divisions Makira-Ulawa Province is sub-divided into the following constituencies (or electoral districts), which are further sub-divided into wards (with populations at the 2009 and 2019 Censuses respectively):

Name Population (2009 census) Population (2019 census) Total Male Female Total Male Female 44. – West Makira 12,060 6,289 5,771 14,397 7,361 7,036 44.05. Arosi South 3,009 1,575 1,434 3,169 1,623 1,546 44.06. Arosi West 2,009 1,064 945 2,425 1,236 1,189 44.07. Arosi North 2,344 1,207 1,137 2,820 1,428 1,392 44.08. Arosi East 2,054 1,083 971 2,746 1,403 1,343 44.20. Haununu 2,644 1,360 1,284 3,237 1,671 1,566 45. – Central Makira 10,115 5,295 4,820 13,196 6,916 6,280 45.09. Bauro West 3,928 2,066 1,862 5,221 2,706 2,515 45.10. Bauro Central 4,562 2,384 2,178 5,557 2,919 2,638 45.11. Bauro East 1,625 845 780 2,418 1,291 1,127 46. – East Makira 13,712 6,939 6,773 18,405 9,513 8,892 46.12. Wainoni West 2,131 1,074 1,057 3,242 1,660 1,582 46.13. Wainoni East 2,488 1,263 1,225 3,254 1,731 1,523 46.14. Star Harbour North 3,262 1,654 1,608 4,106 2,158 1,948 46.15. Santa Ana 1,547 757 790 1,939 954 985 46.16. Santa Catalina 811 413 398 1,015 506 509 46.17. Star Harbour South 1,138 580 558 1,561 811 750 46.18. Rawo 677 356 321 934 490 444 46.19. Weather Coast 1,658 842 816 2,354 1,203 1,151 47. – Ulawa/Ugi 4,532 2,266 2,266 5,589 2,872 2,717 47.01. North Ulawa 1,169 586 583 1,428 712 716 47.02. South Ulawa 1,294 627 667 1,499 772 727 47.03. West Ulawa 860 434 426 1,064 539 525 47.04. Ugi and Pio 1,209 619 590 1,598 849 749 Total 40,419 20,789 19,630 51,587 26,662 24,925

Islands Ali'ite Makira (San Cristobal) Malaulalo Malaupaina Owaraha (Santa Ana) Owariki (Santa Catalina) Pio Ugi Ulawa

References