Solomon Islands Photograph Gallery

	Choiseul (Lauru) is a high island province similar to Isabel, to the north of the country. It has many Melanesian tribes and language groups, including an I-Kiribati (Gilbertese) settlement on Wagina, the island to the south of Choisuel. The Provincial Centre is Taro Island, to the north of Choiseul Bay and in sight of the PNG border (Bourgainville Island). Hilltop view near Boe.
	Constructing a small house. Various timbers are selected for their required properties. Betal-nut wood is often used as flooring and sago palm leaf for the thatch. Such a thatched roof can last up to 7 years and is as just as functional as expensive modern iron substitutes, and also much cooler. Each region and island has its own style of thatch. Traditionally, vines ("bush rope") are used to bind the structure, although nails are common these days. Such a building can be erected in a matter of days.
	Typical coastal scenery near Sasamunga.
	Lituni - a typical coastal village. Most of the settlements on Choiseul are around the coast.
	Headmaster Lawrence and pupils of Boeboe Primary School.
	Sunset at Boeboe village.
	View of Lituni Island from Titiana hilltop.
	Kiribati dancers (not in traditional clothing in this picture) from the island of Wagina, south Choiseul. Wagina was settled by I-Kiribati people in the '50s and '60s.

A Photovoltaics (Solar Power) Project in Choiseul

The hardware was shipped from Honiara on the Lauru 1	Unloading by canoe	The site of Sasamunga Community High School and Primary School

The community organised work gangs to help install the system	Installing the 450Ahr Sungel solar battery bank and 2000KW inverter	At work on the solar array

The array of 8x80W solar panels, oriented to face due north	Light showing in some of the staff houses
A project in pictures. Sasamunga Community High School and Primary School have been fitted with a solar power system in July 2000. The project was funded by the Embassy of Japan, under their Grassroots programme. The system supplies sustainable power for lighting and low-power appliances (suitable for TV/VCR and computer) into all the 7 classrooms, 13 staff houses and a large community hall. Secondary schools require lighting for evening study, teacher's preparation, security and discipline, and the hall will be available for the wider community. Community schools such as this one form natural community centres, and it is hoped that activities such as training and distance learning will be enabled by the sustainable power source, and that opportunities will be created in the village centres, especially for young people, to help counter the problems of rural discontent and urban drift. Many more such projects are planned for Solomon Islands. For more information, contact Village Technology.

Choiseul Province

Crops of Choiseul

Two crops harvested in Choiseul, as in all the provinces: (1) Kumara (sweet potato), a staple food introduced centuries ago, and (2) Rice, a recent introduction, farmed here in Choiseul and other areas with help of the Government of Taiwan.