Russell Islands
{{Short description|Two small islands in the Solomon Islands}}
:See also Russell Island (disambiguation).
{{Infobox islands
|name=Russell Islands
|image_map=RussellIskandsmap.png
|image_map_caption=Map of the Russell Islands, Pavuvu Island is to the left and Mbanika Island is on the right
|image_name=Sunlight Channel Tillotson Cove.jpg
|image_caption=Image of the Sunlight Channel with Mbanika on the left and Pavuvu on right (click on the image for more details)
|country=Solomon Islands
|country_admin_divisions_title = Province
|country_admin_divisions = Central Province
|country_largest_city=Yandina
}}
The Russell Islands are two small islands (Pavuvu and Mbanika), as well as several islets, of volcanic origin, in the Central Province of Solomon Islands.{{cite web|last1=Moore|first1=Clive|title=Russell Islands - Place |website=Solomon Islands Encyclopaedia, 1893-1978|url=http://www.solomonencyclopaedia.net/biogs/E000257b.htm|access-date=15 January 2017|language=en-gb}} They are located approximately {{convert|48|km|mi|0|abbr=off}} northwest of Guadalcanal. The islands are partially covered in coconut plantations, and have a copra and oil factory at Yandina (on Mbanika).{{cite web|last1=Moore|first1=Clive|title=Levers Pacific Plantations Pty. Ltd. - Corporate entry |website= Solomon Islands Encyclopaedia, 1893-1978|url=http://www.solomonencyclopaedia.net/biogs/E000172b.htm|access-date=15 January 2017|language=en-gb|date=2013}} Yandina also has basic services, including a store, post office, and airport.
People
The Lavukal people live on these islands. Their language is Lavukaleve.{{cite web|title=The Russel Islands|url=http://www.yandinaresort.com.sb/Russell_Islands.htm|publisher=Yandina Resort|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070206181800/http://www.yandinaresort.com.sb/Russell_Islands.htm|archive-date=6 February 2007}} There is also a settlement of Polynesians, resettled from Tikopia, that lives in Nukufero on the west side of the larger island, Pavuvu. In 1956 the Levers Pacific Plantations company donated 80 acres for use for this resettlement, and later added another 125 acres in the 1960s. This land was subdivided into 4 acre lots for each family. Five hundred people from Tikopia had migrated there by 1965.{{cite web|last1=Moore|first1=Clive|title=Tikopia and Santa Ana Resettlement Scheme - Concept - Solomon Islands Encyclopaedia, 1893-1978|url=http://www.solomonencyclopaedia.net/biogs/E000311b.htm|website=www.solomonencyclopaedia.net|access-date=15 January 2017|language=en-gb}} Te Ariki Taumako who was the third Chief of Tikopia, made an official visit to Nukufero in 1965.
In Yandina, people from all over the Solomon Islands have come to work for the plantation. In addition to their native languages, they speak Solomon Island Pijin, the lingua franca of the Solomon Islands.
History
In March 1943, as part of American military operations during the Solomons campaign of World War II, the islands were occupied by U.S. troops. The US Navy built Naval Base Banika Island a large naval base in 1943. {{Cite web|url=https://masterliveaboards.com/the-history-behind-the-russell-islands-during-wwii/|title=The History Behind The Russell Islands During WWII|date=April 11, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/Building_Bases/bases-25.html|title=HyperWar: Building the Navy's Bases in World War II [Chapter 25]|website=www.ibiblio.org}} Remnants of the U.S. presence, such as concrete slabs and large metal storage sheds, still exist. Unexploded ordnance was left behind, including land mines, and bounding anti-personnel mines. Two barges are sunk off the wharf.{{cite web|title=Diving|url=http://www.yandinaresort.com.sb/Diving.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070206181500/http://www.yandinaresort.com.sb/Diving.htm|archive-date=6 February 2007|website=Yardina Resort}}
The Yandina police station was the scene of one of the opening events of ethnic tensions, where a group of men raided the armoury and stole some high-powered weapons and ammunition. The group involved became known as the Guadalcanal Revolutionary Army, and later as the Isatabu Freedom Movement.[http://exkiap.net/articles/miscellaneous/james_tanis.htm#HABUNA%20MOMORUQU Violence and the Guadalcanal Uprising in Solomon Islands - a militants view]
Yandina was the site of a RAMSI post.{{cite web|last1=Edwards|first1=Bruce|title=Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands FACT SHEET|url=http://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/solomon_islands/helpemfren/ramsi.html|publisher=DFAT|access-date=15 January 2017|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20041114130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/34535/20041115-0000/www.dfat.gov.au/geo/solomon_islands/helpemfren/ramsi.html|archive-date=14 November 2004|date=1 November 2004}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
Facilities
Havuna Primary School and Yandina Community High School are in the Russell Islands. In 2013 members of the Australian Navy HMAS Tarakan (L 129) rebuilt classrooms in the high school. At that time the principal was Augustine Olibuma.{{cite web|author1=Tony White|publisher=Royal Australian Navy|title=Operation RENDER SAFE rebuilds Yandina school|url=http://news.navy.gov.au/en/Nov2013/Operations/632/Operation-RENDER-SAFE-rebuilds-Yandina-school.htm|website=Navy Daily|access-date=15 January 2017|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20141216195732/http://news.navy.gov.au/en/Nov2013/Operations/632/Operation-RENDER-SAFE-rebuilds-Yandina-school.htm|archive-date=2014-12-16|date=20 November 2013}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} HMAS Diamantina (M 86) and HMAS Huon (M 82) sailors visited the high school in 2016.{{cite web|author1=Mitchell Hosking|title=Lesson in soccer for Huon|url=http://news.navy.gov.au/en/Oct2016/Operations/3278/Lesson-in-soccer-for-Huon.htm|website=Navy Daily|publisher=Royal Australian Navy|access-date=15 January 2017|date=15 October 2016}}
At one time the Yandina Plantation Resort provided tourist accommodation for scuba divers.{{cite web|last1=DiveWorld|first1=uemis|title=Gizo / Tauchspots / DiveWorld - uemis DiveWorld|url=http://www.uemis.org/de/diveworld/tauchspots/gizo|website=www.uemis.org|access-date=15 January 2017}}[http://www.yandinaresort.com.sb/Russell_Islands.htm Yandina Resort] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060102022207/http://www.yandinaresort.com.sb/Russell_Islands.htm |date=2006-01-02 }} It opened in October 2000 with 12 guest rooms.{{cite web|title=Resort Facilities|url=http://www.yandinaresort.com.sb/Our_Resort.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070206182049/http://www.yandinaresort.com.sb/Our_Resort.htm|archive-date=6 February 2007}}
Geography
North of the western island Pavuvu are the islets Mane Island, Leru Island, Marulaon Island, and Hanawisi. South of Pavuvu is Boloka, and Alokan Island. Eastwards from Mbanika is Loun Island, Telin Island, and Moie, and Laumuan Island. Northeast of Mbanika is Koemurun Island and Kaukau Island. Other localities on the large island are Lokioleme and Pipisala. On Pavuvu in addition to Yandina, there is also Suun.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{cite web|title=Search Russel Islands|url=http://www.solomonstarnews.com/component/search/?searchword=Russell%20Islands&searchphrase=all&Itemid=731|website=Solomon Star|access-date=15 January 2017}}
- {{cite web|title=Solomon Is Broadcasting stories|url=http://www.sibconline.com.sb/?s=Russell+Islands|publisher=SIBC|access-date=15 January 2017}}
{{Islands of the Solomon Islands}}
{{coord|9.07|S|159.15|E|region:SB_dim:50000|display=title}}
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