Kula, also known as the Kula exchange or Kula ring, is a ceremonial exchange system conducted in the Milne Bay Province of Papua New Guinea. The Kula ring was made famous by Bronisław Malinowski, considered the father of modern anthropology. He used this test case to argue for the universality of rational decision-making and for the cultural nature of the object of their effort. Malinowski's seminal work on the topic, Argonauts of the Western Pacific (1922), directly confronted the question, "Why would men risk life and limb to travel across huge expanses of dangerous ocean to give away what appear to be worthless trinkets?" Malinowski carefully traced the network of exchanges of bracelets and necklaces across the Trobriand Islands, and established that they were part of a system of exchange, and that this exchange system was clearly linked to political authority.
Milne Bay is a province of Papua New Guinea. Its capital is Alotau. The province covers 14,345 km2 of land and 252,990 km2 of sea, within the province there are more than 600 islands, about 160 of which are inhabited. The province has about 276,000 inhabitants, speaking about 48 languages, most of which belong to the Eastern Malayo-Polynesian branch of the Austronesian language family. Economically the province is dependent upon tourism, oil palm, and gold mining on Misima Island; in addition to these larger industries there are many small-scale village projects in cocoa and copra cultivation. The World War II Battle of Milne Bay took place in the province.
D'Entrecasteaux Islands are situated near the eastern tip of New Guinea in the Solomon Sea in Milne Bay Province of Papua New Guinea. The group spans a distance of 160 km (99 mi), has a total land area of approximately 3,100 km2 (1,197 sq mi) and is separated from the Papua New Guinea mainland by the 30 km (19 mi) wide Ward Hunt Strait in the north and the 18 km (11 mi) wide Goschen Strait in the south. D'Entrecasteaux Islands show signs of volcanism.
Normanby Island is a volcanic, 1,000-square-kilometre (390 sq mi), L-shaped and mountainous island, as well as the southernmost island in the D'Entrecasteaux Islands group. It is part of Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea. The island has an irregular and elongated shape measuring 73km in length (northwest-southeast).
Samarai is an island and former administrative capital in Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
The Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea is a province of the Anglican Communion. It was created in 1977 when the Province of Papua New Guinea became independent from the Province of Queensland in the Church of England in Australia following Papua New Guinea's independence in 1975.
Woodlark Island, known to its inhabitants simply as Woodlark or Muyua, is the main island of the Woodlark Islands archipelago, located in Milne Bay Province and the Solomon Sea, Papua New Guinea.
Daga is a non-Austronesian language of Papua New Guinea. Daga is spoken by about 9,000 people as of 2007. The peoples that speak Daga are located in the Rabaraba subdistrict of Milne Bay district, and in the Abau subdistrict of the Central district of Papua New Guinea.
Gumawana is an Austronesian language spoken by people living on the Amphlett Islands of the Milne Bay Province of Papua New Guinea.
Kulumadau is a large, rural non-village on Woodlark Island, Milne Bay Province Papua New Guinea. It is served by Guasopa Airport. Its population during the 1990 census was 242, though it has since grown extensively; its current population is reported to be about 2,500 people, but there are no official sources for this number, as the last official census was taken in 1990. There is a large primary school in Kulumadau, where 200 students are taught. Students must travel to Alotau on the mainland to attend secondary school. Kulumadau was built in the post-colonial times, and as such, is not considered a traditional village of Woodlark, however, since its inception, Kulumadau has been the primary population center on Woodlark Island.
Anagusa is an island, part of the Bentley Group, in Louisiade Archipelago in the southeastern part of Papua New Guinea. For 2014 census, the island had a village of 122 residents in 21 households, although at least 1 family lives in nearby island of Nare.
The Louisiade Rural LLG is a local level government in the Milne Bay Province of Papua New Guinea. The LLG is situated in the central part of Louisiade Archipelago with Misima Island. At the 2011 census, it contained 23,335 residents living in 4,542 households. The LLG president is Benjamin Kuli. It launched its own microfinance scheme in December 2016.
Dobu Rural LLG is a local-level government (LLG) administering Dobu Island in Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
Huhu Rural LLG is a local-level government (LLG) of Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
Suau Rural LLG is a local-level government (LLG) of Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea. The Suau language is spoken in the LLG.
Duau Rural LLG is a local-level government (LLG) of Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea. The Duau language is spoken in the LLG.
Goodenough Island Rural LLG is a local-level government (LLG) of Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
Kiriwini Rural LLG is a local-level government (LLG) of Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
Bwanabwana Rural LLG is a local-level government (LLG) of Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea. The LLG is situated in the western part of Louisiade Archipelago with Basilaki Island. The Bwanabwana language is spoken in the LLG.
West Ferguson Rural LLG is a local-level government (LLG) of Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
