Lahewa, also Lahia, is a village and sub-district (''kecamatan'') of
North Nias Regency
Nias Utara (North Nias) Regency is a regency in North Sumatra province of Indonesia. It comprises the northern portion of Nias Island and has an area of 1,242.14 km2. It had a population of 127,244 at the 2010 Census and 147,274 at the 2020 Cen ...
on
Nias Island
Nias ( id, Pulau Nias, Nias language: ''Tanö Niha'') (sometimes called Little Sumatra in English) is an island located off the western coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. Nias is also the name of the archipelago () of which the island is the centre, ...
Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
. Forming part of the northwestern coast of Nias Island, in 2001 the sub-district had a population of 26,548 people. The main village of Lahewa is the third largest settlement on the island, and is home to a mosque and several guesthouses.
History
Missionaries visited Nias Island in the early 20th century, and Christianity was reported to have spread to Lahewa by 1915.
Lahewa and Nias Island were struck hard by the Indian Ocean tsunami of 26 December 2004. 150 were reported dead and 3000 homeless in Lahewa, Sirombu and Mandrehe, the tsunami destroying most of the fishing boats.
Due to the poverty-stricken conditions, the people of Lahewa have traditionally suffered from
diarrhoea
Diarrhea, also spelled diarrhoea, is the condition of having at least three loose, liquid, or watery bowel movements each day. It often lasts for a few days and can result in dehydration due to fluid loss. Signs of dehydration often begin wi ...
,
malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects humans and other animals. Malaria causes symptoms that typically include fever, tiredness, vomiting, and headaches. In severe cases, it can cause jaundice, seizures, coma, or death. S ...
International Federation of Red Cross
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is a worldwide humanitarian aid organization that reaches 160 million people each year through its 192-member National Societies. It acts before, during and after disast ...
Canadian Red Cross
The Canadian Red Cross Society ()Gunung Sitoli. In 2001 the subdistrict had a population of 26,548 people, in an area covering . It contains 21 '' desa''/'' kelurahan'' (village communities).
The third largest settlement on Nias Island, the wider sub-district forms the peninsula on the northwest coast, with many caverns among the cliffs and over 130 islands offshore. Geologically it forms the Nias-Lahewa Sub-basin.
Landmarks
The principal place of worship in Lahewa village is Gereja Katolik Lahewa mosque. It is home to several guesthouses, including ''Siang Malam'', a restaurant and guesthouse with 5 rooms upstairs, and ''Mentari'', a two-storey wooden house with 10 double rooms.