Destination Solomons

Last stop at Usili Village, Vanikoro for Island Sky - 16.9.26...until next year, Bon Voyage ⛴️🛟✈️

Visit to Gupuna Village, Santa Ana - Island Sky Cruiseship - 15.9.26

Meeting some special visitors.

Amazing Grace Chocolate Tour a hit with the Island Sky guests and panpipe farewell.
Photos credit

Island Sky Guests in Honiara - Enjoying the Honiara Sightseeing Tour - 14.09.26
Photos Credit to

Welcome back Island Sky cruiseship to Solomon Islands after the pandemic...guests enjoy their first stop at Kolohite Island, Western Province - 12th September 2026.

Dal Travel Group from Romania enjoying the Sikaiana Cultural Village Tour at Red Beach. Thank you for hosting out guests this morning.

Hotomai Cultural Village ..thank you for hosting our 2 guests this afternoon.

Had the privilege to meet Andrew Tripp whose Grand-Father, Major Charles W.H. Tripp fought during WWII on Guadalcanal.

He is one of 6 New Zealanders who received the American Silver Star. His was for bravery on New Georgia. Their unit operated behind enemy lines mainly in surveillance and operated alongside the American forces. He had some Solomon Islanders in his unit and I've contacted a few people to see if there are any ancestors we could meet. The nearest we have got is that most would have come from the Malaita Island. List is below.

His unit was the 2nd NZEF of 1st Battalion, South Pacific Scouts. His number was 71394, Major CWH Tripp, Commander of the 1st Commando Fiji Gorillas. Part of their unit embarked on 2/7/43 from Guadalcanal to New Georgia with 1 Solomon Islanderer under his command. Their unit was initially under the command of the US 43rd Division, then the 37th and 25th. Sometime in August the rest of the unit from Guadalcanal including another 23 Solomon Islanders joined them at Laiana near the Munda Airfield (which had been captured on the 5th August 1943). Part of the unit went onto Vella Lavellla on the 25 August, though non were Solomon Islanders. Members of the British Solomon Islands Protectorate Defence Force who were attached to First Commando Fiji Guerrillas for the New Georgia operation were:

Lieutenant A.G. K. Crass and Lieutenant L. Barrow
Private Kanafea
Private Kwaisifu
Corporal Gumu Private Ladoi
Lanee-corporal Bingiti
Private Maomaoasi
Lanee-corporal Sisili Private Maelalo
Lanee-corporal Surukwana
Private Molea
Lanee-corporal Tobi Private Muga
Private Abuita
Private Onoi
Private Duti
Private Baselo
Private Ebi
Private Ratu
Private Ferelau Private Samiai
Private Gori
Private Todona
Private Kaluomea Private Walele
These Solomon Islanders were specially selected by Lieutenants Crass and Barrow from the original two hundred members of the "Dukwasi" unit.