Solomon Islands Commemorates 75th Anniversary of WWII Battle of Guadalcanal During First Week in August 2017 on Kennedy & Lubaria Islands

GIZO, Solomon Islands, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- In commemoration of 75th Anniversary of the WWII Battle of the Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands, the Ministry of Culture & Tourism and Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau held two special events on August 2 and 3, 2017 on Kennedy and Lubaria Islands in Gizo, Solomon Islands. On hand for the event was United States Defense Attaché, Commander, Dan Balsinger.

Presiding over the events was The Honorable Deputy Prime Minister Manasseh Maelanga, The Honorable Minister of Culture & Tourism, Bartholomew Parapolo, together with CEO Josefa Tuamoto of Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau, the official tourism arm for the country.

Day one kicked off on Aug. 2, 2017, on Kennedy Island with warriors welcoming guests upon arrival and an official welcome by The Honorable Premier Western Province, followed by an opening address by Mr. Maelanga and then an unveiling of a portrait of John F. Kennedy by Mr. Maelanga and Commander Balsinger.

On Aug. 3, 2017, an all-day event on nearby Lubaria Island, where Kennedy's Patrol Torpedo Craft was based, highlighted an unveiling of the John F. Kennedy Monument by Minister of Culture & Tourism, The Honorable Bartholomew Parapolo. Guests also took part in a tour of the Base and new John F. Kennedy Museum. In addition, cultural displays, wood carvings, authentic cuisine, and a bamboo band and dancers were also part of the festivities.

Each event salutes the late Lieutenant John F. Kennedy of the U.S. Navy (35th President of the United States 1961-1963) who was stationed in the Solomon Islands during World War II and who fought heroically and exhibited great bravery and courage in saving 11 of his crew members when his vessel, Patrol Torpedo Craft PT-109 was rammed and sank on the night of 01 August 1943, forcing the survivors to swim to Kennedy Island.

It also honors two brave Solomon Islanders scouts: the late Biuku Gasa and late Eroni Kumana from the Western Province, who discovered Lieutenant Kennedy and his crew on nearby Olasana Island, and who, despite the gravest of danger, paddled many miles through enemy controlled waters to deliver a message inscribed on a green coconut to the Allied Forces Base in Rendova, enabling a successful American rescue operation of the PT-109 survivors.

In conjunction with the events on Kennedy and Lubaria Islands, other events commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the WWII Battle of the Guadalcanal will be held throughout the Solomon Islands from August 5-9 2017.

Visit: https://www.facebook.com/solohistory

Travelers to the Pacific Island destination can book year-round tours of prominent battle sites through Valor Tours, Ltd., based in San Francisco (www.valortours.com). To view the several battlefield sites, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGoiSFjOBR4.  

For more information on the 75th Commemoration of the Battlefield of the Guadalcanal events, visit  https://www.facebook.com/solohistory.

ABOUT THE SOLOMON ISLANDS

A scattered archipelago of some 990-odd richly forested mountainous islands and low-lying coral atolls, the Solomon Islands offers a breathtakingly fresh destination for those international travelers hardy enough to get off the beaten track and look for a new and very different experience. The islands are located just three hours away from Australia's east coast and easily reached via a variety of international connections.

Situated in the South Pacific between Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu, the population of about 550,000 is predominantly Melanesian but includes other smaller groups. Exotic local customs and traditions remain a very important part of life for Solomon Islanders.

The islands and waters are still a little-known pristine paradise. They are particularly special for their remarkable biodiversity, containing thousands of different plant and animal species, especially the marine life. Many species are known only to the Solomons.

This newly emerging, multifaceted South Pacific destination can cater to every taste, desire and budget with its myriad choice of accommodation — from the 'big gun' hotels of the capital Honiara to boutique resort accommodation, eco-lodges and home-stays dotted across the entire archipelago.

The destination is fast attracting a brand new breed of travelers from around the world — divers, WWII buffs, family groups, bird watchers, honeymooners, sports fishermen, yachtsmen, culture-lovers and simply those looking to make their own tracks.

For additional information about the Solomon Islands, visit www.visitsolomons.com.sb.
Email: [email protected] or call 677-22442.

SOURCE Ministry of Culture & Tourism