Solomon Islands Tours & Vacations

Solomon Islanders traditionally rely on the coastal areas as the main source of food, reeling in reef fish, seasonally caught crabs and varieties of shellfish. These practices continue around the islands today. Coconuts, cassava, yams, taro roots and tropical fruits such as pineapples, bananas and papaya are all grown locally. You’ll find plenty of fresh produce in the markets. A typical dish consists of cooked fish served with taro ‘pudding’ and a side of fresh fruit and vegetables. Traveling in Honiara, you’ll find more western influenced cuisines with American and European style of restaurants on offer around town.

While you can purchase the necessities in Honiara, you won’t find chain stores or many large shopping centres in the Solomon Islands. Instead, you can walk through markets selling Melanesian handicrafts and souvenirs, where you can pick out brightly colored clothing for your beach adventures and take your pick from locally grown fresh fruit and vegetables sprawled in every direction. Central Market has the largest number of stallholders selling souvenirs in the capital of Honiara. Here, you will find small carved replicas of humans, birds and fish representing animal motifs from different tribes. When purchasing at the markets, bargaining is not traditionally part of Melanesian culture in the Solomon Islands.

Wantok translates to ‘one talk’ and is used to describe the strong ties of kinship that unite the communities of the Solomon Islands. Kastom is a Pijin word describing the traditional ways of doing things in harmony with Wantok, central to village life and the way society is organized. Ninety-five per cent of Solomon Islanders are Melanesian with the rest of the population being Polynesian, Chinese and of European descent. There are distinctive cultural differences between tribes throughout the archipelago, interwoven with kinship beliefs and clan ties. The national coat of arms displays symbols represented across the regions: an image of a Melanesian dancing shield (Central District), turtle (West District) and Sanford Eagle (Malaita District) framed by a crocodile and shark holding up a crown. Being a Commonwealth country, the Solomon Islands has a constitutional monarchy, that gained independence as a republic in 1978. Influenced by a colonial past, ninety per cent of Solomon Islanders identify to Christianity, with the faith celebrated at Sunday mass involving a lively church choir that combines traditional styles of dance with new age harmonies.

The Solomon Islands span 900 Miles (1448 Kilometers) as part of a volcanic arc extending from Papua New Guinea to Vanuatu. Located in the Pacific Ocean, northeast of Australia, the small group of islands consists of mountainous terrain, dense rainforests, mangroves and coral coastlines. Six main islands make up the inhabited areas with nearly 900 smaller islands dotted throughout the archipelago. The country’s bustling capital, Honiara, is situated on the main island of Guadalcanal where you can find WWII relics scattered in the surrounds outside the city. While Honiara is the main entry point – Seghe, Mundra and Gizo are the gateways to explore further afield. The highest mountain sits at 7644 feet (2330 meters) above sea level on Guadalcanal. Rare orchids grow in the forests and 69 endemic bird species call the Solomon Islands home. The region remains largely untouched and undeveloped with some parts recently declared as marine protected areas for the breeding grounds of critically endangered marine species, such as hawksbill turtles and giant clams.

Wagosia Festival

 Held every year in June on the island of Aorigi (Santa Catalina). Stories of ancestors are brought to life through chanting, re-enactments of spear fighting and tribal ceremonies in celebration of yam harvesting season.

Shell Money Festival

The currency of ‘shell money’ is still recognized for traditional exchanges on some of the islands. Celebrated over three days, the event is held in August at Langalanga Lagoon, Malaita Province.

Easter in the Solomons

Having a population that largely identifies with Christianity, celebrations around Easter are big with a dedicated public holiday and most families going to mass. The church choirs of the Solomon Islands have received international attention for their mix of traditional instruments, dance and upbeat harmonies.