SolChoc- the festival supporting the development of the Solomon Islands Cocoa industry.
We are really encouraging people to book their tickets for the masquerade ball (fundraiser) before we sell out!
We’ve also set up a facebook site SolChoc Festival so people can get updates.
Samantha Mattila
Communications & Knowledge Management Director
M+677 7682 889
Sam.Mattila@strongimbisnis.com.sb
Level 1, Alvaro Building, Mendana Avenue
Honiara Solomon Islands
Are you still looking for something to do this Easter Long Weekend.. Suboko.. North-East Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands.. this Easter 2017 Long Weekend, Vota & the team have a variety of action packed adventure & activities: from Easter Saturday 15/04- Monday 17/04/2017: take your camera for some stunning rain forest scenery and island landscape shots of breat taking views of Malaita, Isobel and Central Province from the mountain look-out..
Suboko is a tiny hamlet located in the Paripao Ward, the same river flowing down the Bokokimbo River. Suboko offers one of the best trekking in the Guadalcanal. It is a trekking full of surprises in an overgrown tropical rain forest with the Popomanaseu clear in sight and the breath taking views of Malaita, Isobel, Central Province from the mountain look-out.
Just one & half hour up the mountain to Paepae Village, home to some of the best master weavers of the Guadalcanal’s neatly woven traditional baskets.. then 2 hours to the drop off point.. then trek down the hill for 1 half hours down to the village by the river bank for the activities: Suboko.. tube rafting, cave sighting, local bonfire by the river, look out plateau, basket weaving..
cost: $1200 SBD… for your; accommodation, transport, food, trekking fee, porters to carry food supplies..
Contact Vota for more detailed information or bookings: +677 710 5092
Email: debzluk@gmail.com
Open Air Arts & Crafts in the park..’ Honiara, Solomon IslandsOpen 10am-4pm (best times)
Part of the Solomon Islands National Art Gallery (SINAG), Honiara..
Outside, under the colourful market stalls, you’ll find an array of hand made products by local Solomon Islanders, some of the traditional skills have been handed down thru their family generations, and show a strong Melanesian cultural influence.. they also use this space as their ‘studio’ and you can see them sitting under a tree, carving, using the specific timber or stone that they have been taught to use.. one of the carvers, Billy Vinajama is 82 years of age, from Gatokae Island at the gateway of Marovo Island, Billy is very passionate about his carving career & achievement and informs me he has been carving in stone for 44 years..
The ‘Avaiki Women’s Group (Women’s Arts & Crafts Group) are hapi, vibrant & actively involved in their craft: the weavers make mats, bags/ baskets/ kete (bag), fans/ jewellery & many more.. there are makers of print/ tie-dye on t-shirts/ dresses/ lavalava & cloth, some make jewellery produced out shell beads/ paper beads into intricate pieces of wearable jewellery.. the women’s leader is ‘Janet Ramoteo’
Avaiki Women’s Group: (women’s group photo)
L-R; 1:Janet Ramoteo, 2:Ela Maesulia, 3:Lucy Bangoika, 4:Nancy Tangangiki, 5:Ruth Sina, 6:Tala Maitaki, 7:Nancy Teabaika, 8:Melina Teahe, 9:Joyce Augia, 10:Nancy Tango, 11:Tusiato Graley, 12:Nesary Taiake, 13:Rose Maenaha..
L-R; 1:Lisah Tony, 2:Marion Tembe, 3:Grace Delson, 4:Rose Sasali, 5:Tahira Joe, 6:Jewter Orelly, 7:Rosa Giaka, 8:Rosana Farodo
Contact: If you have any enquiries, please contact Janet Ramoteo, Avaiki Women’s Group.
You can also ring Janet +677 773 0174 (Women’s Group Leader)
Location: Main Street of Honiara, on the corner, next to the round-about that leads to the Heritage Park Hotel, in the surrounding grounds next to the Solomon Islands National Art Gallery, (or, if staying at the Heritage Park Hotel Honiara, it is on the right side as you enter), there is a entertainment stage, large building that hosts & exhibits up to 60 local artist’s work, from paintings, sculptures, woven craft, jewellery out of paper & shell & carvings in timber & stone.. and more, these are for sale.
Opening times: 10am-4pm/ Monday-Saturday ((Note: Some Stall Holders open on Sundays, but not all))
So, come down and have a chat, or you can watch traditional local & national Solomon Islander carvers, weavers, knitters & jewellery makers create their magic..
Piksa blong Maggie an Veronika (Edita)
Solomon Island Piji Klas & Kuking Klas:
Maggie Wateha’a
South Malaita, Malaita province
Setifikit:
Bukking (SICHE)
Sekreteri
Diploma
Klas:
Taem: : from 7am – 9pm
Mandei tu satudei
(bitwin aoas)
Sapos iu garem eni questin iu ringim maggie lo namba
+6777473631
+6777399677
Photo of Maggie (Pijin tutor/ cooking tutor) & Veronika (Editor)
Taken 16/03/2017 @ Lime Lounge cafe, Honiara
Maggie Wateha’a from Malaita Province, South Malaita
Maggie has been teaching ‘Solomon Island Pijin’ for 22 years, involved with RAMSI since 2004 up until 2016, and was involved with a variety of International NGO’s , VSA (Volunteers Service Abroad), AVI, NZH, Australian High Commission.. Maggie has also been involved with the American Peace Corps for 12 years, achieved a certificate teaching S.I Pijin through Peace Corp’s Washington (cert In Linguistics)..
Besides ‘Pijin Classes’, Maggie also teaches
Certificate:
Diploma:
‘CLASSES’:
Times: 7am – 9pm.
Duration: Classes run from 1Hour up to 2 Hours (course)
Days: Monday to Saturdays
Cost: (negotiable)
If you have any queries please contact Maggie
+677 747 3631
+6777399677
Honiara, Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands Dive Expeditions Sponsors Largest Photography Contest in Solomon Islands History
Solomon Islands Dive Expeditions along with our sister-company Dive Munda, is hosting the largest photography contest in Solomon Islands history. With over $22,000USD ($1.7 million SBD) in prizes, we expect to draw submissions from around the world.
Photographers are invited to submit their best photos or portfolios of life above or underwater in Solomon Islands. An international jury will reward the best portfolio along with best underwater shots. Up to 100 honorable mentions will be selected and submitted for public judging and selection of an additional prize winner.
Solomon Islands is still relatively undiscovered by travellers. We want our visitors to share their experiences and inspire others to visit these beautiful happi isles. From WWII relics scattered in the jungle to leaf-hut villages where traditional culture is alive, there’s so much on offer. Then there’s the visual appeal, with scenery reminiscent of a Discovery Channel documentary: volcanic islands, croc-infested mangroves, huge lagoons, amazing underwater vistas and tropical islets. Travelling the Solomons onboard Taka allows divers and adventure seekers to discover the very best of the Central and Western provinces.
Practical information:
Full Rules and Details
Deadline: Dec 31, 2017
Results of the Vote: Jan/Feb 2018
Photographs must comply with contest rules and must be submitted
via the Ultimate Photo Competition page.
About Solomon Islands Dive Expeditions
Solomon Islands Dive Expeditions first started operations in 2014 with its vessel Solomon Star. In 2016, the company expanded operations with a new vessel, Taka. With 12 guest rooms housing up to 24 clients, Taka explores diving in some of the most remote and beautiful locations in the Solomons. Divers explore cuts and caverns, WWII wrecks and pristine coral diversity throughout the Ngella and Russell Island groups as well as travelling to Marovo Lagoon. While scuba diving is the main focus of these trips, Taka’s guests are also introduced to the vibrant culture within Solomon Islands with village visits and tours.
Contact: To learn more about this contest,
please visit our website at http://www.solomonsdiving.com or email:
Shaz Kozak, Solomon Islands Dive Expeditions
Email: shaz@dive-solomon.com
——
Full Rules and Details hyperlink:
http://www.solomonsdiving.com/photo-contest-rules
Ultimate Photo Competition hyperlink:
http://www.solomonsdiving.com/ultimate-photo-competition-entry
Worth sharing this link..
https://www.facebook.com/groups/470082163011820
‘Buy and Sell in Solomon Islands’
Editors Note: This is a closed group, ask to join first
(I’m waiting for membership to this group..)
htt://www.facebook.com/honiarayoga/posts/895226293950677:0
Free wi-fi – http://wp.me/p4mVlQ-10T
They say, ‘a picture can tell a thousand words’.. Gerald fav’ saying..I do believe this philosophy to be true, probably because we’re both keen artist (that could help), we draw & paint pictures..
It helps if you have a keen eye for photo-graphy, and I love a great picture..
but, seriously.. here are some pictures of me with our host family & good frens in Honiara & surrounding areas..
(Just so you might like to see who/what I look like, ’tis all)..
love snorkelling, diving, swimming too
This first photo image was taken with my new you-bute GoPro camera..
The Pineapple Post 