Colonialism, maasina rule, and the origins of malaitan kastom david akin. Solomon islands is a sovereign state consisting of six major islands and over 900 smaller islands in oceania lying to the east of papua new guinea and northwest of vanuatu and covering a land area of 28,400 square kilometres 11,000 sq mi. They settled the main islands and developed landbased communities, first with agriculture and then through animal husbandry, particularly pigs. Jan 23, 2015 you can click here and click here to read more about the early history of seventhday adventist church in solomon islands. Malaita, the most densely populated of the solomon islands, is located about 1,200 miles off the northeast coast of australia. National flag of the solomon islands 1977 the solomon islands, formerly called the british solomon islands, is an archipelago nation situated in the southwest pacific ocean, comprising about 35 islands and atolls. Auckland council district plan hauraki gulf islands section operative 20.
This is a preparatory report for the solomon islands towards the small islands developing states sids sustainable development sd conference in samoa next year. Geologically, the solomon islands are part of the volcanic arc extending from new ireland in papua new guinea to vanuatu. Ch 5 historical outline pdf, report of the royal commission into matters relating to norfolk island, australian. You can click here to read about the lauru choiseul seventhday adventist church history. Solomon islands, independent commonwealth nation 2015 est. Solomon islands, the past four thousand years by sam alasia and others, edited by hugh laracy.
What are the solomon islands major imports and exports. This article is courtesy of the cia fact book solomon islands introduction the uk established a protectorate over the solomon islands in the 1890s. When you visit solomon islands, you virtually step back in time. The solomon islands nation lies immediately to the southeast of the papua new guinea island of bougainville, separated by a narrow strait. The solomon islands is an archipelago country in oceania consisting of nearly 1,000 islands.
Solomon islands national report for third international small island developing states conference on sustainable development melchior mataki 61820. Although some families decided to return to pitcairn in 1858 and 1863, the islands population continued to grow. Solomon islands natural resources support about half a million people. It is situated in honiara, the capital, in guadalcanal province. Until recently at the time the print was published the natives practiced cannibalism, infanticide, head hunting and the enslavement of their women.
Peiris, the high commissioner of sri lanka in australia admiral thisara samarasinghe, who is also concurrently accredited to the solomon islands visited the solomon islands on 22nd may 2014 and called on gordon darcy lilo, prime minister of solomon islands and handed over a letter from president rajapaksa, and also handed over a bank draft of. Solomon islands national report for united nations. As we have in the paststated, the sdgs is not just about eradicating poverty, it is also about healing the health of our planet. The countrys capital, honiara, is located on the island of guadalcanal. Solomon islanders have recorded much of their history a term which refers both to the events of the past and to ways of viewing those events in a rich oral tradition, and in a variety of art forms. Collections the major part of the collection consists of cultural materials with some examples of natural history specimens, world war ii relics and archaeological material. For a discussion of the history of solomon islands in its broader, regional context, see pacific islands.
Constitutional amendment diversity and conflictminority issues. They were the only inhabitants for thousands of years, until austronesianspeaking protomelanesians began moving in around 4000 bc. The country takes its name from the solomon islands archipelago, which is a. Prepared by parliamentary civic education department national parliament of. Constitution is supreme law this constitution is the supreme law of solomon islands and if any other law is inconsistent with this constitution, that other law shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void. Almost the entire population of the islands practices some religion. We do not know who first settled this small volcanic island about 9. The marshall islands, officially the republic of the marshall islands marshallese. The solomon islands national museum was first opened on june 1969. The first british solomon islands protectorate census in 1931 recorded a total of 94,066 people, but the protectorates precontact population was probably in excess of two hundred thousand and possibly twice or even three times that number, and this has implications for trying to calculate the size of bougainvilles early population. The flag of the solomon islands was adopted on the 18th of november 1977, shortly after being granted selfgovernment by their. Dont blame the solomon islands sinking all on climate change. The solomon islands article about the solomon islands by.
Solomon islands, country in the southwestern pacific ocean. It is in this connection, solomon islands a special case forremain sustainable development given our vulnerability to climate change and unique characteristics. Solomon islands is a sovereign state in the melanesia subregion of oceania in the western pacific ocean. Ethnic violence, government malfeasance, and endemic crime. This remarkable woman spent about 30 of her 83 years in the solomon islands, where she went in 1923. Constitutional amendment diversity and conflictminority issues federalism devolution decentralization asia solomon islands. Located on the north shore of fidalgo island in washington states puget sound, anacortes was founded in 1879 by railroad surveyor amos bowman and. This is an original 1921 halftone print of young stalwarts of the solomon islands in the south pacific islands. The area is a graveyard of dozens of world war ii destroyers, military ships and aircraft in the clear waters surrounding the islands, and makes for an incredible chance to scuba dive through history. Clothing in solomon islands island, solomon islands. Dive with wwii wrecks in the solomon islands travel. There is a unicameral parliament of 50 members, elected for fouryear terms.
Feb 20, 2020 solomon islands, country in the southwestern pacific ocean. There was almost continuous fighting from 1941 to 1943, and guadalcanal was the scene of a sixmonth battle which was crucial to the outcome of the war in the pacific. Some of the bitterest fighting of world war ii occurred on this archipelago. It consists of a double chain of volcanic islands and coral atolls in melanesia. The journal includes articles on solomon islands material culture, folklore, geology, natural history, research reports from anthropologists and other scientists working in the solomon islands, museum news and acquisition information. History of the solomon islands mother earth travel. This section focuses specifically on the history and development of the area and country now known as solomon islands. Before 1800 the solomon islands were visited rarely by europeans.
The islands that constitute the nation of the solomon islandsguadalcanal guadalcanal, volcanic island 2009 pop. But these resources are under pressure, and the impact of the 19992003 tensions runs deep. This page is about the history of the nation state rather than the broader geographical area of the solomon islands archipelago, which covers both solomon islands and bougainville island, a province of papua new guinea. The human history of solomon islands begins with the first papuan settlement at least 30,000 years ago from new guinea. Glenn, as the presidents personal representative, delivered a letter to that effect from president jimmy carter to prime minister peter kauona keniaraisoona kenilorea. The islands of vanuatu have been inhabited since 500 bce, and the region was part of the tongan empire into the 14th century. History and ethnic relations the first discoverers of the solomon islands were the island peoples themselves. The solomon islands from west to east ants of africa. Proximate countries include papua new guinea, vanuatu, tuvalu, and australia. Solomon islands history, language and culture history of solomon islands. Relations between the united states and what is now the solomon islands began in the late 19th century, when u. The solomon islands are a constitutional monarchy and have a parliamentary system of government.
The island is home to the fataleka and baegu peoples, whose music is influenced by the traditional religious beliefs that were practiced before their conversion to christianity in the 19th century. The solomon islands were initially settled by at least 2000 bcewell before the archaeological record beginsprobably by. Maasina rule concept solomon islands encyclopaedia, 18931978. Dont blame the solomon islands sinking all on climate. Compiled from the october 2007 background note and supplemented with additional information from the state department and the editors of this volume. History papuanspeaking huntergatherers from new guinea were settling the southern and eastern solomon islands by 25, 000 bc. The duff islands occupied by polynesians, around 200 in 1970, this is a compact chain of small islands of volcanic origin. Marine regions solomon islands exclusive economic zone eez. Clothing in solomon islands island, solomon islands, south. Although little prehistory of the solomon islands is known, material excavated on santa ana, guadalcanal, and gawa indicates that a huntergatherer people. The journal of the solomon islands museum association was produced by the museum association. The solomon islands from west to east the eastern outer islands images taken by.
The modern nation of the solomon islands is an amalgamation of two archipelagos, instigated by the british in the last years of the 19th century and marking the high point of imperial rivalry in the pacific between the major european powers. This power was ineffective in melanesia where local leaders, known as either bigmen or chiefs. Maritime boundaries and exclusive economic zones 200nm, version 11. The pacific islands monograph series is privileged to add this volume to its. It is the only national museum in the whole country at present. Solomon islands exclusive economic zone flanders marine institute 2019. Solomon islands pijin is one of the three melanesian pidgins along with tok pisin spoken in papuanew guinea, and bislama spoken in vanuatu that are, more or less directly, the offshoots of the pacific trade jargon of the early 19th century, known as beachlamar.
The modern nation of the solomon islands is an amalgamation of two archipelagos, instigated by the british in the last years of the 19th century and marking the high point of imperial rivalry in. I first visited the solomon islands two years before the end of the british solomon islands protectorate bsip and have been a constant visitor ever since, perhaps forty times. But settlers there were, for early visitors from europe. Some of them are no longer available in paper copies, but we have chosen to include them on the webpage as pdfs which can be browsed through or. The santa cruz islands are a group of small islands located some 345 miles 555 km east of guadalcanal. Selfgovernment was achieved in 1976 and independence two years later. Liberalism, imperialism and colonial expansion 141 formal hierarchy of responsibility rested with the chiefly class. Islands, into new hebrides and on into the melanesian islands. Solomon islands seventhday adventist church history.
Queen elizabeth ii is the monarch of the solomon islands and the head of state. Stearns, although he recognized that the islands in creased in age towards the northwest, also recognized that each island volcano had had the same history. Norfolk island is located in the pacific ocean between australia, new zealand, and new. Media in category history of the solomon islands the following 24 files are in this category, out of 24 total. History of solomon islands lonely planet travel information. Introduction solomon islands encyclopaedia, 18931978. There has been a worsening in rural services and infrastructure. The solomon islands countries office of the historian. Most of the people were living on the ancient artificial island, tahua, some 200 m.
Solomon islands islands and nation, pacific ocean britannica. The journal of the solomon islands museum association. Solomons and ships james tedder gives a potted history of the ships and vessels that enabled trade and administration to be undertaken throughout the solomon islands archipelago over time. Germany cedes the northern solomon islands to the united kingdom, which had declared a protectorate over the southern solomon islands in 1893. Prepared by parliamentary civic education department. During world war ii they became the site of intense battles between u. A paper on the regional youth parliament organised by national parliament of solomon islands in consultation with the house of representatives of bougainville and new south wales parliament. The solomon islands were occupied by the japanese army during the second world war, and counterinvaded by american and allied troops. There are other factors at work, the studys author says. Corporate entry solomon islands encyclopaedia, 18931978 name is a biographical, bibliographical and archival database of subject with links to related articles and images. Solomon islandss constitution of 1978 with amendments. The bank commenced operations in port moresby on 1 may 1957, as a branch of the national bank of australasia limited.
The islands are occupied by japan during world war ii. Twentyeight to eighteen thousand years ago, when seas levels were lower, bougainville was the north of a single land mass that included buka. The solomon islands historical encyclopaedia, 18931978 contains more than 700 entries on places, historical events, institutions, concepts and individuals. Operations were later expanded to the major centres and on 1 october 1974 it was incorporated as bank of south pacific limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the australian parent, with a paidup capital of k2 million. The personal experiences of sister gwen cross involving culture, education, wwii, economic change reflecting 30 years of solomon islands history. The islands are inundated with wrecks during wwii but solomon islands isnt simply a history fans dream its also a beautiful country with an impending tourist industry, and yearround activities to allow visitors to mix and mingle with the locals in rustic surroundings. Missionaries began visiting the solomons in the mid19th century.
They represented the furthest expansion of humans into the pacific until the expansion of austronesianlanguage speakers through the area around 4000 bc, bringing new agricultural and maritime technology. Archived from the original pdf on october 26, 2007. Maasina rule concept solomon islands encyclopaedia. Solomon islands prime minister emphasizes homegrown constitutional reform process, role of lawyers. Although little prehistory of the solomon islands is known, material excavated on santa ana, guadalcanal, and gawa indicates that a huntergatherer people lived on the larger islands as early as b. The country comprises most of the solomons chain, with the exception of buka and bougainville, two islands at the northwestern end that form an. You can click here and click here to read more about the early history of seventhday adventist church in solomon islands. Culture of solomon islands history, people, women, beliefs. Solomon islands has a strategic location on sea routes between the south pacific ocean, the solomon sea, and the coral sea. Bougainville is the largest island in the solomons archipelago. This is the first digital encyclopaedia for any pacific island nation and enables access to the colonial years of the solomon islands. History 1899 germany cedes the northern solomon islands to the united kingdom, which had declared a protectorate over the southern solomon islands in 1893. The united states recognized the solomon islands on july 7, 1978, when senator john h. The few explorers had found little to attract them.
In the early and midnineteenth century there was increasing contact by whalers who came to the islands for food and refreshment. Annexure 1a the history of human settlement of the islands. Maasina rule concept solomon islands encyclopaedia, 18931978 name is a biographical, bibliographical and archival database of subject with links to related articles and images. I the landing in the solomons 78 august 1942 confidential publications branch office of naval intelligence united states navy 1943. The country comprises most of the solomons chain, with the exception of buka and bougainville, two islands at the northwestern end that form an autonomous. Solomon islands national museum is a museum, cultural centre, government department or ministry and also houses ww2 relics. Liberalism, imperialism and colonial expansion of all the colonies in the pacific ocean, only fiji, where the labour trade was also. James tedder explains the practicalities and processes of getting access to food and shopping in the british solomon islands protectorate.