Solomon Airlines

Rennell & Bellona Province

Traditionally known as Mu Nggava and Mu Ngiki respectively, Rennell and Bellona islands are Polynesian outliners sharing similar languages and cultures. Because of its unique and specialised ecology, east Rennell has been made a national wildlife park and nominated for World Heritage listing. Historically the Lapita people occupied Bellona briefly in about 1,000 BC with settlements on both islands following in around 130 BC, followed by another major occupation in about 1,000 AD. Rennell is sparsely populated for its size with only 1,500 inhabitants, whilst the smaller Bellona is home to 1,000 people. The people of both these islands are skilled and inventive woodworkers and in pre-Christian times they wore tapa and were ornately tattooed.

Officially discovered in 1793 by captain Benjamin Boyd in the merchant ship Bellona the people of Rennell and Bellona speak similar Polynesian languages closely related to Maori. Hetakai, which is their traditional form of wrestling, involves males of all ages with two contestants competing at a time with the victor being the one who knocks down his opponent first and wins all his bouts.

Solomon Airlines operates five weekly flights to Rennell and Bellona.

Highlights

• Visit Lake Te Nggano on Rennell, which is the largest lake in the South Pacific and haven for bird life and proposed site for World Heritage site.
• See the soaring cliffs of Rennell and Bellona, which are raised coral atolls.
• Experience the unique culture including Polynesian traditions
• Visit ancient burial places, caves, and temples of the legendary Hiti people.
• Explore caves on the fertile Bellona, the scene of many island fables.

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Email Solomon Airlines Date last updated 01 September, 2007