Holiday in Honiara

About Honiara

Honiara is the capital of the Solomon Islands, a Melanesian island archipelago in the South Pacific. The city is located on the northern coast of Guadalcanal — an island that was the site of one of the decisive battles of the Pacific War during World War II, and whose history is omnipresent here. The Guadalcanal American Memorial on Skyline Ridge commemorates the fallen of the Battle of Guadalcanal (1942-43). Rusting shipwrecks off the coast, abandoned airfields in the jungle, and the national museum with war relics tell the dramatic story. Iron Bottom Sound, the body of water in front of Honiara, gets its name from the dozens of sunken warships on the seabed. However, the Solomon Islands are much more than war history: The underwater world is spectacular — wreck diving at sunken planes and ships, pristine coral reefs, and manta rays make the islands a world-class diving destination. The Melanesian culture is vibrant: kastom villages (traditional villages), pan flute music, and intricate wood carvings. The central market of Honiara is the largest market in the South Pacific: betel nuts, tropical fruits, fish, and hand-woven baskets in a huge building by the water.