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Where were matrilineal descent systems common in Melanesia?

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Map of the Pacific Ocean region showing three major culture areas highlighted in different colors: Micronesia in purple, Melanesia in green, and Polynesia in yellow. The map includes labeled islands and island groups such as Hawaii, Fiji, Samoa, New Zealand, Guam, and the Marshall Islands, with the culture area boundaries spanning across the central and southern Pacific.
Melanesian culture

In Melanesia, matrilineal descent systems are primarily utilized in much of the Massim region, the Bismarck Archipelago, and the Solomon Islands.1

While these systems are common in those areas, it is important to note that there is considerable variation within these regions. In these matrilineally organized societies, ties to a father's relatives are also expressed and recognized, often playing a complementary role in social and ritual life.1