Haruku Island

There are six Christian (Aboru, Haruku, Hulaliu, Kariu, Oma and Wassu) and five Muslim (Kabauw, Kailolo, Pelauw,Rohomoni and Sameth) villages (desa) on the island. The areas (in km²) and 2020 Census populations of each of these, together with the official estimates as at mid 2022, are as follows:

As on most of the islands of the Moluccas, spices such as nutmeg, cloves, cumin and ginger are grown as cash crops.

In 1527, the Portuguese were the first Europeans to reach the island. The Dutch followed in 1590 and established Fort New Zealand, whose ruins are now a tourist attraction. During World War II, the Japanese established a Prisoner-of-war camp for captive Australians and British forces on the island, who were used as forced labor to build an airstrip.