Samarai, small administrative and trade center, located on the tiny island of Samarai, or Dinner Island, in Papua New Guinea. Samarai is located off the east tip of New Guinea, in an area of the southwestern Pacific Ocean called the Coral Sea. It is situated at longitude 150°40' east and latitude 10°37' south. Samarai has a warm, humid climate averaging between 21°C to 27°C (70°F to 80°F).
As a center of maritime commerce Samarai is served by seaplanes and by interisland ships. Samurai is just southeast of Milne Bay, which was an important Allied base during World War II (1939-1945). The Japanese met their first defeat in New Guinea when their attempted landing in this area was repulsed by the troops of General Douglas MacArthur on August 25, 1942.
