Lewonama – small village settlement on Solor Island, Flores Timur regency
Lewonama is located in the East Nusa Tenggara (Nusa Tenggara Timur) province, in Solor Barat district belonging to Flores Timur kabupaten. Based on settlement coordinates (-8.4385125, 122.9800781), it is situated in the western part of Solor Island, which forms part of the Indonesian Bali and Lesser Sunda Islands macroregion. Flores Timur kabupaten consists of three main territorial units: the eastern mainland part of Flores Island, Adonara Island, and Solor Island, where Lewonama is located. Since available sources extend only to regency level, certain data concerning the settlement can be presented in the context of Flores Timur kabupaten.
General overview
Lewonama belongs to Solor Barat (West Solor) kecamatan, which administratively functions as part of Flores Timur kabupaten. This kabupaten was established under Law No. 69 of August 9, 1958, which created lower-level administrative units in the former Bali, West Nusa Tenggara, and East Nusa Tenggara provinces. The kabupaten capital is Larantuka, located in the eastern part of Flores Island, which was once the center of the Larantuka Kingdom and developed under strong Portuguese cultural and Catholic religious influence. According to 2021 data, Flores Timur counted nearly 284,000 inhabitants; by the end of 2024, this figure had risen to approximately 290,000. The kabupaten's population density was approximately 156 persons per square kilometer in 2021. Lewonama itself belongs to the relatively small, lesser-known settlements of Solor Island, about which detailed statistical data does not appear in publicly accessible sources. The settlements of Solor Barat district generally subsist on agriculture and fishing, which is characteristic of this region's island and coastal location.
Real estate and investment
No publicly available, itemized data exists on the real estate market and investment in Lewonama and Solor Barat district; therefore, the following reflects the broader context of Flores Timur kabupaten and East Nusa Tenggara province. Flores Timur kabupaten as a whole ranks among relatively peripheral, rural regions of Indonesia, where real estate prices and investment activity are typically lower than in Bali or larger urban areas. Economic infrastructure on Solor Island is limited, transportation connections and tourism are at more modest levels of development, which also affects the real estate market. Regarding the general framework of Indonesian land ownership regulations, it is important to note that foreign nationals cannot acquire full ownership rights (Hak Milik) to real property in Indonesia; for them, the regulations permit leasing arrangements (such as Hak Sewa or Hak Pakai), whose detailed terms must always be clarified in accordance with current Indonesian law and consultation with a local legal expert. From an investment perspective, Solor Island areas, including those in Solor Barat district, may be relevant primarily for long-term, locally oriented actors, while speculative or tourism-oriented investments are not yet characteristic of this area.
Safety and security
Direct, itemized, citeable data is not available on public safety in Lewonama. East Nusa Tenggara province and, within it, Flores Timur kabupaten generally do not rank among Indonesian regions with particularly high crime rates; rural island communities are characterized by strong local social bonds, and public safety is fundamentally considered orderly compared to major cities. However, at the village level, police presence and infrastructure may be limited, a consequence of the remote island location. For any specific public safety questions, consultation with the field and the competent authorities of Kecamatan Solor Barat is recommended, as published, itemized public safety statistics for this area are not publicly available.
Tourist attractions
No named, source-identified tourist attractions are known within Lewonama's built-up area. With regard to the broader Flores Timur kabupaten, however, it should be noted that the regency capital, Larantuka, was once the center of the Larantuka Kingdom, which developed under Portuguese influence, and preserves strong Catholic cultural traditions. Larantuka's religious and cultural heritage, as well as the natural endowments of Flores Island and neighboring smaller islands—together with the seas surrounding Solor Island—rank among the broader region's potential points of interest, which may provide a kind of context for visitors to Flores Timur. Solor Island in general may be considered a quiet, fishing-village-type area, where observation of the natural environment and local lifestyle constitute tourist appeal, although these characteristics are general observations regarding the broader island rather than source-verified facts specific to Lewonama.
Summary
Lewonama is a small, poorly documented settlement in the western part of Solor Island, in Solor Barat district of Flores Timur kabupaten, in East Nusa Tenggara province. Available sources extend only to regency level; the settlement's own demographic, real estate market, and public safety data are not publicly accessible. With regard to the broader kabupaten, Flores Timur is characterized by Portuguese and Catholic cultural heritage, a three-part island and mainland territorial structure, and a total population of approximately 290,000. For Lewonama, obtaining any more detailed local information requires field research or consultation with authorities.
