Tarawa

Tarawa is an old Gilbertese form for Te Rawa, meaning "The Passage" (of the Lagoon), named for the unusual large ship channel to the lagoon.Rawa. n. a passage, canal, passage through reef, a strait. Ernest Sabatier, Dictionnaire gilbertin-français, 1952. In the popular etymology based on Kiribati mythology, Nareau, the God-spider, distinguished Karawa, the sky, from Marawa, the Sea, from Tarawa, the land.

Tarawa has a large lagoon, {{convert|500|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=off}} in total area, and a wide reef. The lagoon is widely open to the ocean, with a large ship pass. Although naturally abundant in fish and shellfish of all kinds, marine resources are being strained by the large and growing population. Drought is frequent, but in normal years rainfall is sufficient to maintain breadfruit, papaya and banana trees as well as coconut and pandanus.

North Tarawa consists of a string of islets from Buariki in the north to Buota in the south. The islets are separated in places by wide channels that are best crossed at low tide, and there is a ferry service between Buota and Abatao.{{cite web|title=North Tarawa Island Report 2012|url=http://www.climate.gov.ki/about-kiribati/island-reports-201/north-tarawa/|publisher=Government of Kiribati}} Only Buota is connected by road to South Tarawa, via a bridge.

On South Tarawa, the construction of causeways has now created a single strip of land from Betio in the west to Tanaea in the northeast.{{cite web|title=South Tarawa Island Report 2012|url=http://www.climate.gov.ki/about-kiribati/island-reports-201/south-tarawa/|publisher=Government of Kiribati}} Previously, Benito, the site of the battle of Tarawa, was only 291 acres in size.{{Cite book |last=Crosby |first=Donald F. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TPRmAAAAMAAJ&dq=tarawa+size&pg=PA68 |title=Battlefield Chaplains |date=1994 |publisher=University Press of Kansas |isbn=978-0-7006-0662-7 |pages=68 |language=en}}

File:Line5304 - Flickr - NOAA Photo Library.jpg

Tarawa features a tropical rainforest climate under the Köppen climate classification. The climate is pleasant from April to October, with predominant northeastern winds and stable temperatures close to {{convert|30|C}}. From November to March, western gales bring rain and occasional cyclones.[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/319111/Kiribati Kiribati]. Encyclopædia BritannicaThomas, 3

Precipitation varies significantly between islands. For example, the annual average is 3,000 mm (120 in) in the north and 500 mm (20 in) in the south of the Gilbert Islands. Most of these islands are in the dry belt of the equatorial oceanic climatic zone and experience prolonged droughts.

{{Weather box

|location = Tarawa Airport (South Tarawa)

|metric first = Y

|single line = Y

|width = auto

|Jan record high C = 35.0

|Feb record high C = 33.0

|Mar record high C = 35.0

|Apr record high C = 34.5

|May record high C = 34.5

|Jun record high C = 33.5

|Jul record high C = 34.5

|Aug record high C = 34.5

|Sep record high C = 34.5

|Oct record high C = 35.0

|Nov record high C = 35.0

|Dec record high C = 35.0

|year record high C = 35.0

|Jan high C = 30.7

|Feb high C = 30.6

|Mar high C = 30.7

|Apr high C = 30.7

|May high C = 30.8

|Jun high C = 30.8

|Jul high C = 30.9

|Aug high C = 31.0

|Sep high C = 31.1

|Oct high C = 31.2

|Nov high C = 31.3

|Dec high C = 30.9

|year high C = 30.9

|Jan mean C = 28.2

|Feb mean C = 28.1

|Mar mean C = 28.1

|Apr mean C = 28.2

|May mean C = 28.4

|Jun mean C = 28.3

|Jul mean C = 28.2

|Aug mean C = 28.3

|Sep mean C = 28.4

|Oct mean C = 28.6

|Nov mean C = 28.5

|Dec mean C = 28.2

|year mean C = 28.3

|Jan low C = 25.3

|Feb low C = 25.3

|Mar low C = 25.2

|Apr low C = 25.3

|May low C = 25.5

|Jun low C = 25.3

|Jul low C = 25.1

|Aug low C = 25.2

|Sep low C = 25.3

|Oct low C = 25.4

|Nov low C = 25.4

|Dec low C = 25.3

|year low C = 25.3

|Jan record low C = 21.5

|Feb record low C = 22.5

|Mar record low C = 22.5

|Apr record low C = 22.5

|May record low C = 21.0

|Jun record low C = 21.0

|Jul record low C = 21.0

|Aug record low C = 21.5

|Sep record low C = 22.5

|Oct record low C = 22.0

|Nov record low C = 22.5

|Dec record low C = 22.0

|year record low C = 21.0

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 271

|Feb precipitation mm = 218

|Mar precipitation mm = 204

|Apr precipitation mm = 184

|May precipitation mm = 158

|Jun precipitation mm = 155

|Jul precipitation mm = 168

|Aug precipitation mm = 138

|Sep precipitation mm = 120

|Oct precipitation mm = 110

|Nov precipitation mm = 115

|Dec precipitation mm = 212

|year precipitation mm = 2052

|unit precipitation days = 0.3 mm

|Jan precipitation days = 15

|Feb precipitation days = 12

|Mar precipitation days = 14

|Apr precipitation days = 15

|May precipitation days = 15

|Jun precipitation days = 14

|Jul precipitation days = 16

|Aug precipitation days = 18

|Sep precipitation days = 15

|Oct precipitation days = 11

|Nov precipitation days = 10

|Dec precipitation days = 17

|year precipitation days = 172

|Jan humidity = 81

|Feb humidity = 80

|Mar humidity = 81

|Apr humidity = 82

|May humidity = 81

|Jun humidity = 81

|Jul humidity = 80

|Aug humidity = 79

|Sep humidity = 77

|Oct humidity = 77

|Nov humidity = 79

|Dec humidity = 81

|year humidity = 80

|Jan sun = 220.1

|Feb sun = 192.1

|Mar sun = 207.7

|Apr sun = 201.0

|May sun = 229.4

|Jun sun = 219.0

|Jul sun = 229.4

|Aug sun = 257.3

|Sep sun = 243.0

|Oct sun = 260.4

|Nov sun = 240.0

|Dec sun = 189.1

|year sun =

|Jand sun = 7.1

|Febd sun = 6.8

|Mard sun = 6.7

|Aprd sun = 6.7

|Mayd sun = 7.4

|Jund sun = 7.3

|Juld sun = 7.4

|Augd sun = 8.3

|Sepd sun = 8.1

|Octd sun = 8.4

|Novd sun = 8.0

|Decd sun = 6.1

|yeard sun = 7.4

|source 1 = Deutscher Wetterdienst

{{cite web

| url = https://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_916100_kt.pdf

| title = Klimatafel von Tarawa, Int. Flugh. Bonriki / Kiribati (Gilbert-Inseln)

| work = Baseline climate means (1961–1990) from stations all over the world

| publisher = Deutscher Wetterdienst

| language = de

| access-date = 30 November 2020}}

}}

Tarawa atoll has three administrative subdivisions: Betio Town Council (or BTC), on Betio Islet; {{ill|Teinainano Urban Council|it}} (or TUC), from Bairiki to Tanaea; and Eutan Tarawa Council (or ETC), for North Tarawa or Tarawa Ieta, consisting of all the islets on the east side from Buota northwards.{{cite web|last=Dr Temakei Tebano & others |work=Office of Te Beretitent – Republic of Kiribati Island Report Series (for KAP II (Phase 2) |title=Island/atoll climate change profiles – Tarawaieta (North Tawara) |date=March 2008 |url=http://www.climate.gov.ki/library.html |access-date=28 April 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111106060656/http://www.climate.gov.ki/library.html |archive-date=6 November 2011 }} The meaning of Te inainano in Gilbertese language is "down of the mast", alluding to the sail-shape of the atoll "inainano: *B ináinano. n. lower sprit or brace of a canoe sail; *O inainano. n. the lower yard arm.", from Trussel Gilbertese dictionary).

South Tarawa hosts the capital of the Republic of Kiribati and was also the central headquarters of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands since 1895. The House of Assembly is in Ambo, and the State House is in Bairiki. The offices of the various ministries of the government range from Betio at the south-west extreme to Nawerewere (on an easterly island in its chain), close to Bonriki (International Airport) and Temwaiku. Settlements on North Tarawa include Buariki, Abaokoro, Marenanuka and Taborio.

Four resident diplomatic missions exist: the embassies of China (closed in 2003, re-opened in 2020) and Japan (opened in 2023), and the high commissions of Australia and New Zealand. The United Nations are also present in Kiribati, including UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA, UNOPS, UN Women, WHO and FAO.

File:Battle Tarawa.jpg

In Kiribati mythology, Tarawa represents the primordial earth, existing before Nareau the spider separated the land, ocean, and sky. After naming the sky "karawa" and the ocean "marawa," Nareau referred to the rock upon which Riiki—another deity discovered by Nareau—stood when he raised the sky as "Tarawa." Following this, Nareau went on to create the remaining islands of Kiribati, as well as Samoa.

Gilbertese first settled these islands thousands of years ago, and there have been migrations to and from Gilbert Islands since antiquity.North Tarawa Socioeconomic Report 2008. Secretariat of the Pacific Community and Government of Kiribati

Evidence from a range of sources, including carbon dating and DNA analyses, confirms that the exploration of the Pacific included settlement of the Gilbert Islands by around 200 BC. The people of Tungaru (native name of the Gilbertese) are still excellent seafarers, capable of making ocean crossings in locally made vessels using traditional navigation techniques.{{cite book|last=Howe|first=K. R.|title=Vaka Moana – voyages of the ancestors|year=2006|publisher=David Bateman|isbn=1869536258|url=http://search.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/?q=pacific%20exploration&refx=&uilang=en}}

Thomas Gilbert, captain of the East India Company vessel {{ship||Charlotte|1784 ship|2}}, was the first European to describe Tarawa, arriving on 20 June 1788. He did not land. He named it Matthew Island, after the owner of his ship Charlotte. He named the lagoon Charlotte Bay.{{cite magazine

| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bk8EAAAAMBAJ&q=%22Thomas+Gilbert%22+captain+pacific&pg=PA91

| title=The Gilberts & Marshalls: A distinguished historian recalls the past of two recently captured pacific groups

| magazine=Life

| date=22 May 1944

| quote=Being now abreast of this island, the extremity ending in a beautiful clump of trees, I hauled up to look at the bay. It appeared to be safe and commodious, sheltered by a long reef running parallel with the island, with two large inlets into the bay. The reef is about ¾ of a mile from the beach, and has several small islands which appear like flower pots.

| author=Samuel Eliot Morison

| access-date=14 October 2009

}} Gilbert's 1788 sketches survive.

File:Tarawa 1873 map.jpg survey in 1873]]

In 1841, the island was mapped by the US Exploring Expedition.{{cite book |last1=Stanton |first1=William |url=https://archive.org/details/greatunitedstate00will/page/245 |title=The Great United States Exploring Expedition |date=1975 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=0520025571 |location=Berkeley |pages=[https://archive.org/details/greatunitedstate00will/page/245 245]}}

For nine generations, the island was divided between two warring factions, the House of Auatubu and the House of Teabike, until in 1892 HMS Royalist (1883) arrived, with Captain Edward Davis proclaiming that the island was now a British Protectorate. This saved Auatubu from massacre; the day before, they had been badly defeated by Teabike. A very old lady, plaiting a sleeping mat twenty-five years later, described the situation:

"In those days death was on the right hand and on the left. If we wandered north, we were killed or raped. If we wandered south, we were killed or raped. If we returned alive from walking abroad, our husbands themselves killed us, for they said that we had gone forth seeking to be raped. That was indeed just, for a woman who disobeys her husband is a woman of no account, and it matters not how she dies. Yet how beautiful is life in our villages, now that there is no killing and war is no more... Behold my son and my grandson! These would have died with me that day at Nea if the warship had not arrived. And these"-she pointed out her great and great-great-grandchildren-"would never have been born. We live because the Government of Kuini Kabitoria brought peace to us, and here I sit plaiting this mat to be buried in because of the kindness of that woman, with all my generations around me to wrap me in it when I die."A Pattern of Islands. Arthur Grimble. The Reprint Society, by arrangement with John Murray (publishers) Ltd., 1954. First published 1952. Pages 178-180.

The aftermath of land claims and counter-claims between Auatubu and Teabike nevertheless caused high tension for years afterwards.A Pattern of Islands. Arthur Grimble. The Reprint Society, by arrangement with John Murray (publishers) Ltd., 1954. First published 1952. Pages 247-258.

Charles Richard Swayne, the first Resident Commissioner, decided to install the central headquarters of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands protectorate in Tarawa in 1895.{{cite journal |author1=Maude, H.E. |author2= Doran, Edwin Jr.|title= The Precedence of Tarawa Atoll |url= https://www.jstor.org/stable/2569373 |date=June 1966|volume= 56|issue=2|journal= Annals of the Association of American Geographers|pages=269–289 |doi= 10.1111/j.1467-8306.1966.tb00558.x|jstor= 2569373}} Tarawa Post Office opened on 1 January 1911.{{Cite web | last = Premier Postal History | title = Post Office List | publisher = Premier Postal Auctions | url = https://www.premierpostal.com/cgi-bin/wsProd.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=ge&country= | access-date = 5 July 2013}}

Sir Arthur Grimble was a cadet administrative officer based at Tarawa (1913–1919).{{cite web| last =Grimble |first =Sir Arthur |title = A Pattern of Islands|year =1952|publisher=Early New Zealand Books (NZETC)| url= https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-GriPatt.html| access-date=16 October 2011}} He became Resident Commissioner of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony in 1926.{{cite book |last1= Grimble|first1= Sir Arthur|title=A Pattern of Islands|year= 2011|publisher=John Murray & Co, London, 1952; republished 2011 by Eland, London|isbn=978-1-906011-45-1}}

File:With the Marines at Tarawa.ogv documentary film, 1944 (0:20:10)]]

During World War II, Tarawa was occupied by the Japanese, and beginning on 20 November 1943 it was the scene of the bloody Battle of Tarawa. On that day U.S. Marines landed on Tarawa and fought Japanese Marines of the Special Naval Landing Forces occupying entrenched positions on the atoll. The Marines captured the island after 76 hours of intense fighting that killed 6,000 people in total.

The fierce fighting was the subject of a documentary film produced by the Combat Photographers of the Second Marine Division entitled With the Marines at Tarawa. It was released in March 1944 at the insistence of President Roosevelt. It became the first time many Americans viewed American servicemen dead on film.{{Citation needed|date=May 2018}}. The US built bases on the Island.

The Kiribati Government began a road restoration project funded in part by the World Bank in 2014 to re-surface the main road from Betio in the west to Bonriki in the east,{{cite web| url = http://www.worldbank.org/projects/P122151/kiribati-road-rehabilitation-project?lang=en| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121112171106/http://www.worldbank.org/projects/P122151/kiribati-road-rehabilitation-project?lang=en| archive-date = 2012-11-12| title = Projects : Kiribati Road Rehabilitation Project {{!}} The World Bank}} upgrading the main road that transits Tarawa from a dirt road.

• A Pattern of Islands by Sir Arthur Grimble, John Murray & Co, London, 1952; republished 2011 by Eland, London, {{ISBN|978-1-906011-45-1}}
• Return to the Islands by Sir Arthur Grimble, John Murray & Co, London, 1957
• The 2004 book The Sex Lives of Cannibals by J. Maarten Troost is a lighthearted account of the author's two years living on Tarawa.
• The Precedence of Tarawa Atoll, by H.E. Maude and Edwin Doran Jr, Annals of the Association of American Geographers, Vol. 56, No. 2 (Jun. 1966), pp. 269–289.
• Kiribati. Cronache illustrate da una terra (s)perduta is an illustrated book of Alice Piciocchi (illustrator: Andrea Angeli). March 2016. 24 Ore Cultura, Milan, also in French translation Chronique illustrée d’un archipel perdu, éditions du Rouergue, 2018.
• "Tarawa" by war correspondent Robert Sherrod was published in 1944 and chronicles the WWII battle

• Tarawa is the site of the 1944 Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph by Frank Filan, depicting a destroyed bunker.
• Leon Cooper, a US Navy Landing Craft Operator who took part in the WWII battle, returned to the island in 2008 to investigate reports the beach he landed on was littered with garbage. His journey was chronicled in the documentary "Return to Tarawa: The Leon Cooper Story", narrated by Ed Harris.
• "Tarawa Atoll Sanglant" is a Belgian comic written by Jean-Michel Charlier and Victor Hubinon in 1950. ({{ISBN|2-8001-2063-0}})
• Leon Uris' 1953 fictional Battle Cry extensively depicts the 1943 battle. (Uris was a Marine on Guadalcanal.)
• Tarawa Atoll is featured as the penultimate battle of EA Games Medal of Honor, Pacific Assault (2004).
• A 1956 British drama film Pacific Destiny based on the book A Pattern of Islands was made in 1956.
• The Far Reaches, a 2007 historical novel by Homer Hickam, describes the Battle of Tarawa. ({{ISBN|0-312-334753}})
• In the novel Snow Falling on Cedars, Ishmael Chambers is a World War II US Marine Corps veteran who lost an arm fighting the Japanese at the Battle of Tarawa while watching his friends die. He revisits his part in the battle in a flashback.
• The Sex Lives of Cannibals: Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific is a 2004 travelogue by author J. Maarten Troost describing the two years he and his girlfriend spent living on Tarawa atoll in the Pacific island nation of Kiribati.

• USS Tarawa was the name of the first LHA-class amphibious assault ship.

• Tarawa Climate Change Conference

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category|Tarawa Atoll|Tarawa}}

• [http://tarawaontheweb.org/ Tarawa on The Web – A History of the Bloodiest Battle]
• [http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-C-Tarawa/ The Marine Assault of Tarawa]
• [http://tarawatheaftermath.com/ Tarawa the Aftermath]
• [http://www.uscg.mil/history/uscghist/Mascots_2.asp "Tarawa" the USCG cat]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20040605042538/http://www.history.navy.mil/ac/exploration/wilkes/wilkes.html Exhibit: The Alfred Agate Collection: The United States Exploring Expedition, 1838–1842] from the Navy Art Gallery
• [http://www.returntotarawa.com Return to Tawara]

{{Kiribati geography}}

{{List of Oceanian capitals by region}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Capitals in Oceania

Category:Populated places in Kiribati

Category:Atolls of Kiribati

Category:Gilbert Islands