Kuma – a small island settlement in the heart of the Sangihe island group
Kuma is a village in North Sulawesi (Sulawesi Utara) province in Indonesia, situated within Kepulauan Sangihe Regency and belonging to Tabukan Tengah District (kecamatan). Based on the settlement's coordinates (3.5608899° N, 125.5630503° E), it is located within the Sangihe island group. Kepulauan Sangihe Regency itself is situated on the border between the Sulawesi Sea and the Pacific Ocean, between Sulawesi island and the Philippines, with its seat at Tahuna according to the source. The regency had a population of approximately 136,025 in mid-2025, with a total area of 736.98 km².
General overview
No independent, settlement-level statistical or encyclopedic source is available for Kuma, so the following description should be understood at the level of Tabukan Tengah District and Kepulauan Sangihe Regency. Kepulauan Sangihe Regency comprises an island group located in the Indonesian-Philippine border region; according to the source, the area is divided into three clusters: Tatoareng, Sangihe, and Perbatasan (border zone). The latter forms a direct maritime boundary with Davao Occidental province in the Philippines on Mindanao island. The region thus holds a special geopolitical position, as it is among Indonesia's northernmost territories open toward the Philippines. Tabukan Tengah kecamatan is one of the interior districts of this regency, characteristically composed of smaller villages and communities based on agriculture and fishing livelihoods. Kuma, as part of this environment, is presumably a settlement of similar character, though no concrete, verifiable data is available on this. It is characteristic of the regency as a whole that island life, traditional fishing, and small-scale agriculture form the economic foundation, while transportation between islands occurs predominantly by water.
Real estate and investment
No concrete, settlement-level real estate market data is available for Kuma; the following reflects the broader context of Kepulauan Sangihe Regency and North Sulawesi province. In the Sangihe island group regions, the size and liquidity of the real estate market are typically far more limited than in Indonesia's more developed tourist or urban centers. The distance from major commercial and industrial hubs, limited infrastructure, and logistical challenges arising from island location result in moderate investor demand. From a general Indonesian regulatory perspective, it is important to note that foreign nationals cannot generally acquire full ownership rights (Hak Milik) over property in Indonesia; for them, Hak Pakai (usufruct rights) or long-term lease arrangements are primarily available, with conditions that should always be clarified through valid legal consultation. Due to proximity to the border region, strategic or speculative interest in certain areas of Kepulauan Sangihe cannot be ruled out, though the available source material contains no concrete market data on these matters.
Safety and security
No crime statistics, police reports, or other verifiable public safety data pertaining to Kuma or Tabukan Tengah District appear in the available sources. The broader region, North Sulawesi province, is generally classified among Indonesia's moderately secure areas according to various travel advisories, without particular or notable security risks. The border-region character of Kepulauan Sangihe and its proximity to the Philippines represents a special geopolitical condition, making it necessary to monitor current information from Indonesian authorities. Small, isolated island villages are typically characterized by close community bonds, which represent a traditional form of local social control; however, specific statements on this cannot be made in the absence of source material.
Tourist attractions
No named tourist attractions, cultural heritage sites, or natural landmarks specifically associated with Kuma appear in available sources, so the following should be understood at the level of Kepulauan Sangihe Regency. The natural features of the Sangihe island group — volcanic highland landscapes, coral reef-lined coastal sections, and the waters of the Sulawesi Sea — generally characterize the region, which according to the source lies between Indonesia and the Philippines, on the border between the Sulawesi Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Tahuna, the regency capital, serves as the administrative and commercial center, functioning as the region's primary orientation point. Within and around Tabukan Tengah District, nature-oriented tourism — particularly diving and snorkeling on coral reefs, as well as access to volcanic landscapes — represents the type of activity that generally characterizes the region, although no concrete source data for Kuma specifically is available on these matters.
Summary
Kuma is a small Indonesian island settlement belonging to Tabukan Tengah District in Kepulauan Sangihe Regency in North Sulawesi, located in a border region adjacent to the Philippines. No comprehensive, standalone data source exists for the village; what can be stated with certainty is the regency's geographic and demographic framework: Kepulauan Sangihe, with a total area of 736.98 km² and a population of approximately 136,000, lies between Sulawesi island and Mindanao across the Sulawesi Sea and at the edge of the Pacific Ocean. Due to the place's small size and peripheral character, the real estate market and tourism can primarily be examined in the context of the broader region. For more detailed and current information, on-site research and contact with local Indonesian municipal authorities are recommended.
