Honiara

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Honiara, population 49,107 (1999), is the capital of the Solomon Islands and of Guadalcanal Province, although it is a separately administered town.

The town is located on the island of Guadalcanal, and was built to replace the former capital of Tulagi at the end of World War II. Honiara officially became the capital of the Solomon Islands in 1952. The town revolves around the paved Kukum Highway, which connects Henderson field in the east of Honiara with the settlement of White River in the west, and passes the National Referral Hospital and the recently burnt down Chinatown. Honiara is located at 9°28' South, 159°49' East (-9.46667, 159.81667). [1]

[edit] Tourism

Honiara, although not particularly pretty, is the Solomon Islands' springboard for tourism activities. The country's tourist office, the Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau [2], is located on Honiara's main thoroughfare, Mendana Avenue. Situated between the shady Yacht Club and the popular Solomon Kitano Mendana Hotel, its officers provide tourist information and can radio ahead to announce visitors' arrivals to guest houses in the remoter areas. Honiara has a harbour from which ferries depart to the various provinces. The gardens of the National Art Gallery are popular for afternoon strolls, while the reconstructed Government House and the National Museum are worth visiting. The spectacular Tenaru falls can be found a one hour's drive and a three-hour hike from Henderson International Airport.