Islanders in south like eating beef (7)

'islanders' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'south like eating beef' is the wordplay.
'south' becomes 's' (abbreviation).
'like' becomes 'as'.
'eating' indicates putting letters inside.
'beef' becomes 'moan' (I've seen this before).
'as' placed around 'moan' is 'amoans'.
's'+'amoans'='SAMOANS'

'in' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?