Kirakira, Solomon Islands

Kirakira
Location on Makira Island
Location on Makira Island
Kirakira is located in Solomon Islands
Kirakira
Kirakira
Location in Solomon Islands
Coordinates: 10°27′S 161°55′E / 10.450°S 161.917°E / -10.450; 161.917
Country Solomon Islands
ProvinceMakira-Ulawa
IslandMakira
Elevation
152 m (499 ft)
Population
 (2019)
 • Total3,500
Runway at Kirakira airport.
View from the Main Street in Kirakira, close to Kirakira Hospital
The beach at Kirakira, where local markets are usually held every day
Starfruit which, once ripe, often graced the breakfast table at Freshwinds Guesthouse
In the evening, following the river on the track to the local beach in Kirakira
Beach at Kirakira
Sunset at the local beach in Kirakira
Local beach at Kirakira at sunset, when the rain was rolling in for another evening
Approaching Three Sisters Island
Flowers in local gardens in Kirakira
One of the many beautiful flowers in Kirakira
Houses in Kirakira, next to the beach
Front entrance of Kirakira Hospital at sunset
Evening view from the front entrance of Kirakira Hospital
Butterfly at the Freshwinds Guesthouse.

Kirakira, also spelt Kira Kira, is the provincial capital of the Makira-Ulawa Province in Solomon Islands.[1] Kirakira is located on the north coast of Makira (formerly San Cristobal), the largest island of the province. It has roads running 18 kilometres (11 mi) east to the Warihito River and 100 kilometres (62 mi) west to Maro'u Bay.[2]

The Kirakira Airport is served by Solomon Airlines, which provides flights to Honiara and other destinations.[3] The airport is a grass strip and receives flights four times per week. Solomon Airlines, the national carrier, flies in and out of Kira Kira. It is a 45-minute flight from Honiara. Planes landing at the airport vary in size from a 6-seat Islander to a 36-seat Dash 8 twin turboprop. If there is too much rain, the airstrip can be too muddy to allow planes to safely land.

The capital, KiraKira, is a small township of approximately 3,500 people. The premier, Thomas Weipe, is the local Makira-Ulawa representative for Solomon Islands parliament. His office is in KiraKira. KiraKira does have electricity and running water. The electricity is produced by a diesel generator. There are often periods where there is no power each day for 1–2 hours while the generator is maintained. The town is nestled on the bay opposite the airport. Most people live in traditional Solomon Island houses. There is mobile phone coverage in KiraKira that allows for talk and text communication but not mobile Internet services. The Internet can usually only be accessed at the post office. Despite an annual rainfall in excess of 3 metres, there are challenges associated with securing the water supply for the town. A centerpiece for the community is a full-sized soccer oval.

90% of the population on the island are Christian with various denominations including Roman Catholic, South Pacific Christian and 7th day Adventist churches found in the community. The majority of the population lives in rugged terrain in villages on the slopes of the mountains which are covered in dense jungle and rise along the spine of Makira Island.

A range of languages and dialects spoken in Kirakira. Pidgin English is spoken by the local Islanders. English is the official language used by the staff at the hospital and in the schools.

  1. ^ Hugh Laracy; Sam Alasia (1 December 1989). Ples Blong Iumi: Solomon Islands, the past four thousand years. South Pacific Books Ltd. ISBN 978-982-02-0027-2.
    - "Makira and Ulawa Province". Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau.
  2. ^ Stanley, David (2004). Moon Handbooks: South Pacific (8 ed.). Avalon Travel. pp. 1034–1035. ISBN 978-1-56691-411-6. OCLC 224404243.
  3. ^ "Domestic Route Map". Solomon Airlines. Archived from the original on 27 January 2007. Retrieved 17 March 2007.