Joanne Husain takes us with her to the Solomon Islands, on the other side of the world.
The Solomon Islands, simply referred to as the Solomons, are an independent multi-island nation in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. Situated east of Papua New Guinea and north of Australia, curving along the infamous Ring of Fire, the Solomons form a remote archipelago ranging from mountainous islands to low-lying coral atolls. There are 992 islands in total; only about 90 are inhabited.
[caption id="attachment_1105500" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Small boats with outboard motors are used for travel between islands.- Joanne Husain[/caption]
Just over 700,000 people call the Solomons home. The main island is Guadalcanal, with Honiara as the country’s capital.
The Melanesian, Polynesian, and Micronesian roots of the population are reflected in everything from traditional dress and cuisine to the intricate art of woodcarving. Over 60 different local languages and dialects are spoken, and English is the country’s official language. Solomon Islands pijin, however, is the lingua franca, not only spoken but often written on signs throughout the towns.
[caption id="attachment_1105501" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Delicious and nutritious lakeno is made from taro root pounded with coconut cream and cooked in banana leaves. - Joanne Husain[/caption]
The people of the Solomons are warm, welcoming, and share deep ancestral connections to their land and sea. They are proudly preserving their cultural traditions and heritage while navigating modern living. In these islands, kastom and wantok are foundational concepts that shape social life and community interactions.
Kastom refers to the traditional customs, practices, and beliefs that have been passed down through generations. These cover everything from governance systems, dispute resolution to cultural rituals and land ownership.
[caption id="attachment_1105502" align="alignnone" width="592"] Faraaz Abdool and Joanne Husain with local guide John Fenva and host Hazel Harohau on Malaita. Hazel completed her master’s degree in tourism at The UWI, St Augustine. -[/caption]
Wantok means literally “one talk,” and signifies mutual social support among members of the same language, culture or clan. A deep sense of community responsibility and collective welfare is fostered by these concepts.
One of the best ways to experience the Solomon Islands is by staying with locals. Homestays, eco-lodges and community-based tourism are gaining traction especially in rural areas of the Solomons, offering locals an opportunity to be part of the tourism economy while affording travellers the chance to live as locals do.
[caption id="attachment_1105494" align="alignnone" width="1024"] The Imbu Rano Lodge on Kolombangara island marks the start of the conservation line at around 400m above sea level. No logging is allowed above this line. - Joanne Husain[/caption]
At the Imbu Rano Lodge on the island of Kolombangara, travellers are taken care of by a small staff in a completely of
