Kaofe – a small island settlement in Kadatua District, South Sulawesi
Kaofe is an Indonesian settlement located in Southeast Sulawesi (Southeastern Celebes) Province, belonging to Kadatua District (kecamatan) within Buton Selatan Regency. Based on its coordinates (-5.5322° south latitude, 122.4878° east longitude), it is situated in the southeastern part of the Celebes Island, within the coastal-island region around Buton Island. Kendari is the capital of Southeast Sulawesi Province, and the province had a population of approximately 2.85 million in the first half of 2025. Regarding Kaofe, no independent, detailed statistical or encyclopedic source is currently available, therefore the following description is based on generally known characteristics of the broader administrative units — Kadatua District, Buton Selatan Regency, and Southeast Sulawesi Province.
General overview
Kaofe is a relatively small, sparsely documented settlement for which publicly available settlement-level statistics are currently not available. Kadatua District is located on or near one of the smaller islands in the vicinity of Buton Island, and administratively belongs to Buton Selatan Regency, which was established in 2014 through the division of the former Buton Regency. The region is characterized by its island and coastal nature: across the waters between the Banda Sea and the Flores Sea, numerous small islands and peninsulas form the living space where local communities' lives have traditionally been defined by fishing and small-scale agriculture. The Buton Island group is a culturally rich region: the historical legacy of the Buton Sultanate, the local Wolio culture, and maritime traditions are all present in the daily lives of surrounding communities. Kaofe itself — as its location suggests — may be such a small community primarily serving local needs and relatively separated from more distant economic and tourist centers, although factual, published data on this is not available.
Real estate and investment
Detailed, publicly available data on the real estate market and investment opportunities in Kaofe and Kadatua District are not known. The broader Buton Selatan Regency is a relatively young administrative unit whose economic development is still in progress, and it can be generally stated that in such remote island areas, property prices are typically lower than in more developed urban regions of Southeast Sulawesi Province, such as those near Kendari. From an investment perspective, island areas may offer opportunities in the local fishing, agricultural, or small-scale hospitality sectors, though infrastructure conditions — road networks, water transport connections, and utility provision — substantially influence the accessibility and attractiveness of individual locations. According to Indonesia's general land ownership regulations, foreign private individuals cannot acquire full ownership rights (Hak Milik) over real estate; for them, Hak Pakai (usage rights) or long-term leasing arrangements are available, whose legal framework is established in the applicable provisions of Indonesian agrarian law. These general rules apply to the Kaofe area as well, and all real estate transactions are advised to be prepared with the involvement of local legal experts.
Safety and security
Factual, settlement-level data on public safety in Kaofe are not available. Southeast Sulawesi Province is generally not listed among regions with elevated security risks from an Indonesian public safety perspective, and the province's smaller, rural settlements typically form relatively quiet, close-knit communities where the rate of serious crime is low. However, in certain coastal areas of the province — particularly on smaller, less accessible islands — public services, including police presence, may be limited, which does not necessarily mean poor public safety but rather reflects the general level of infrastructure. For travelers and real estate investors, it is generally recommended to directly familiarize oneself with local conditions and establish contact with the local community, as available public information may be incomplete.
Tourist attractions
No reliable, verifiable source is available regarding named tourist attractions in Kaofe. The broader Buton Island group and Southeast Sulawesi Province, however, possess numerous natural and cultural values that characterize the region as a whole. For example, on Buton Island lies the city of Baubau, in whose vicinity stands the former fortress of the Wolio Sultanate, Benteng Keraton Buton — this is one of the largest former forts in Indonesia. The province's marine environment, including coral reefs and clear-water bays, represents natural appeal for those interested in diving and marine tourism. Based on Kadatua District's island location, it is reasonable to assume that such natural features are accessible from Kaofe's surroundings, but it is not possible to name specific tourist attractions linked to the settlement based on available sources. This does not mean the location is valueless from a tourism perspective; it merely means that detailed, credible information is not yet publicly documented.
Summary
Kaofe is a small Indonesian settlement in Southeast Sulawesi Province, in Kadatua District of Buton Selatan Regency. Detailed, local-level data are currently not publicly available, therefore the region's characterization can be based primarily on the broader administrative and geographical context. As part of the culturally and naturally valuable Buton Island group region, Kaofe may represent a small community whose understanding requires direct field experience. Before making real estate and investment decisions, it is strongly recommended to obtain current local information and legal advice.
