Posts about 🏝️ Hirimaradhoo

Hirimaradhoo is a small island in the far north of the Maldives, with a long and traceable history of settlement. At its centre stands a mosque believed to be more than four centuries old. The structure is one of the island’s most significant historical markers, indicating continuous habitation and anchoring the island’s spatial and social layout over time. The settlement developed around this core through practical land management rather than large-scale transformation. Agricultural plots, managed tree stands, and a mangrove wetland formed part of everyday island life, supporting food cultivation, building needs, and water regulation. These landscapes reflect accumulated local knowledge rather than formal planning, shaped gradually across generations. Hirimaradhoo’s lagoon and surrounding reefs also played a defining role. Sheltered waters supported fishing and inter-island travel, integrating maritime skills into daily routines and regional connections. Together, land and sea structured a way of life that sustained a small but stable community for centuries. In recent years, Hirimaradhoo has entered a new phase in its history. Changes in administration and patterns of habitation have drawn attention to how the island is used, documented, and remembered. While its physical features remain, the meaning of the island is increasingly shaped by decisions made beyond its shoreline. For readers interested in understanding this transition and its implications for residents and the island’s future, further context is explored in a separate blog feature. https://malamathi.org/blog/hirimaradhoo-an-island-being-evacuated