Hoarafushi () is an inhabited island of

Haa Alif Atoll Haa Alif Atoll is the code name based on the letters of the Maldivian alphabet commonly used to refer to the administrative division officially known as Northern Thiladhunmathi Atoll (Maldivian language, Maldivian: ''Thiladhunmathi Uthuruburi'' ...

Maldives The Maldives, officially the Republic of Maldives, and historically known as the Maldive Islands, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in South Asia located in the Indian Ocean. The Maldives is southwest of Sri Lanka and India, abou ...

, and is geographically part of the Ihavandhippolhu Atoll.The island has a history dating back approximately 300 years when the inhabitants of nearby Huvahandhoo migrated and established a settlement. Over the centuries, Hoarafushi has developed a rich cultural heritage, particularly known for its contributions to Maldivian poetry and literature. It is an island-level administrative constituency governed by the Hoarafushi Island Council.

History

The island is named after the

great frigatebird The great frigatebird (''Fregata minor'') is a large seabird in the frigatebird family (biology), family. There are major nesting populations in the tropical Pacific Ocean, such as Hawaii and the Galápagos Islands; in the Indian Ocean, colonies ...

, known as the in Dhivehi, which used to be seen there. According to the 1912 census, Hoarafushi was the fourth-largest locality in the Maldives, with a population of 1,811. The island used to be an educational hub. The people of Hoarafushi claim to have originated from Gudhanfushi, a vanished island adjacent to Huvahandhoo in the same reef. The population moved to Huvuhandhoo as Gudhanfushi

eroded Erosion is the action of surface processes (such as water flow or wind) that removes soil, rock, or dissolved material from one location on the Earth's crust and then transports it to another location where it is deposited. Erosion is disti ...

away before moving onto Hoarafushi. In 2006 the inhabitants of Berinmadhoo were relocated to Hoarafushi.

Geography

Hoarafushi is located at the northern most Ihavandhippolhu Atoll. The island is situated within the largest fringing reef of Maldives extending over 22 km. Hoarafushi consist of 3 islands naturally joined the main island Hoarafushi adjacent to Bodufinolhu connected in the late (1700) and Kudafinolhu in (2013). The island has a land area of 105 hectares. north of the country's capital,

Malé Malé is the capital and most populous city of the Maldives. With a population of 211,908 in 2022 within its administrative area and coterminous geographical area of , Malé is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. The city i ...

Aviation Academy

The Regional Airports Company (RACL) inaugurated an Aviation Academy on Ha. Hoarafushi, Maldives, featuring the country's first automatic fire simulator. Named the Ahmed Fayaz Fire Simulator after former RACL Fire and Safety Director Ahmed Fayaz, the academy aims to provide comprehensive aviation programs sanctioned by the

Maldives Civil Aviation Authority The Maldives Civil Aviation Authority is the civil aviation authority of the Maldives, headquartered in Malé. It is responsible to regulate, and promote the development of air transport in the Maldives. History It was first established on 10 N ...

, including civil aviation-approved certificate courses. Basic firefighting courses commenced in July 2022, with plans to expand training to aircraft rescue, firefighting, and emergency medical services.

Population

Education

The Hoarafushi island has 4 well known educational institutions. # H.a Atoll School (ހ.އ އަތޮޅު މަދަރުސާ), a government manipulated educational institution. (LKG to Grade 12) # Avid International Preschool opened in 2025 # Thauleemul Bayaan (ތައުލީމުލް ބަޔާން), a private educational institution mainly focused on Qur'an Studies. # Novel Institute of Technology offers IT courses

References

External links

Isles Profile - Hoarafushi
{{Islands of the Maldives Islands of the Maldives