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The four pictures above have been
taken by Ishmael Tavasi of Vaukolou Vunagi ni Nggela Cultural Revival Program. Ishmael
plans to revive some of the aspects of the Central islands' rich cultural heritage
including the construction of four war conoes, a custom house and to reinstate the chiefly
systems. One of the major recent events in this program was a traditional custom wedding,
integrated into a church service, that took place with 16 couples and a custom feast
for 800 people with 30 pigs, 1000 custom puddings made from cassava and coconut cream and
over 500kg of locally caught fish.(2)
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The
Central Province consists of the Florida and Russell groups and Savo Island,
just north and west of Honiara. The Provincial centre is Tulagi, the old
pre-war British administration centre, now reachable across the "Iron
Bottom Sound" by ship or canoe, from Honiara. There are some excellent
dive locations around the coast of the Floridas and Russells, in particular.
There are some eco-resorts including Maravagi, just a two hour canoe ride
from Honiara (book via the Visitors Bureau) located in a tranquil passage
with superlative growths of coral and an excellent cook.
The main town in the Russell Islands is Yandina (Solomon Airlines flies there). This region is home to many small sandy-shored islets and lagoons, as well as a substantial oil palm and copra planation.
Sunset, Central Province.(1) |
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Savo Island, a live volcano, is one of the most interesting trips you can make whilst based in Honiara. Savo is a 31 sq. km island lying 13km off Northern Guadalcanal. It is an active volcano island with a pair of craters, one enclosing the other. Although these volcanic cones are currently dormant, they are believed to be potentially dangerous. The islands’ several peaks are a mixture of eroded ridges and lava flows. Alvaro de Mendana’s expedition saw the volcano erupting in early April, 1568 and called it Sasarga. In 1840 it erupted with considerable loss of life. Sunset, Central Province. (1) |
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The population of about 2,500 is wholly Melanesian and scattered around the island in 14 main villages. Savo is renowned for its megapode birds which use the heat of the volcanic soil to help its young hatch from their large eggs.
Sunset, Central Province. (1) |
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The highlight of the trip is a visit to the megapode nesting and hatcheries. The bird is about 28 - 38 cm and digs a deep hole in the hot soil for nesting. After a long incubation period of 8 to 9 weeks, the young hatch fully feathered and are able to run immediately and fly within 24 hours. Ground temperatures rise to around 85C (185F) and mud boils in several places. The best hot springs are at Fisher Voghala on the edge of the main crater. GTS Travel can arrange tours to Savo Island.
Typical leaf building design, Gumba Village. (1) |
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Village scene, Gumba Village.(1) |
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It's not all sun and sand! Cyclone weather, Gumba Village. (1) |
Provincial Government Contact Details
Number of Secondary Schools and Primary Schools:
National Secondary School (NSS) 1 and its contact point is at Siota on PH(29081) or through Education Division at Tulagi. This particular school is situated at Siota on North Small Nggella.
There are six Community High School. There is one at Yandina Substation PH(25900/25901), Paibeta on South Savo PH(32100), Siro on Sandfly Gela PH(32100), Tulagi PH(32100), Polomuhu on North Big Gela PH(32100), Vuranimala on South Small Nggella PH(32100).
There are 35 Primary Schools in Central Province.
Maps courtesy of Bob Vincent,
Eddie Kakai and Mick Saunders of The Map Factory, Census Office
census@welkam.solomon.com.sb
Photographs by:
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