Abaiang

For the village on Teraina, see Abaiang (Teraina)

Main article: Kiribati

Abaiang, also spelled Apaiang, sometimes called Apiaia, and formerly named Charlotte Island, Matthews or Six Isles, is a coral atoll of Kiribati, located in the west-central Pacific Ocean.

Geography

Abaiang Atoll comprises 30 islands, two of which had now been reduced to just rock. Abaiang Island (the main island), Ribono Island, and Nuotaea Island are inhabited. All the other islands are uninhabited. Abaiang Atoll is in the northern Gilberts with a total land area of 6 square miles (16 km²). The atoll has a lagoon (16 by 5 miles (26 by 8.0 km)) that provides sheltered anchorage.

In the southwest of Abaiang there is a channel, the Bingham Channel, which is the basic conjunction between the lagoon and the Pacific. The channel is between the biggest island of Abaiang (in the east) and a very little island in the southwest of Abaiang called Teirio.

There are two guesthouses on Abaiang Island. "Nei Nikuao Lodge", the Council-owned lodge on "Sunset Beach" at Tabontebike village on the main island, and "Ouba Islet Resort" on Ouba Islet on the north-western "Pacific Coast" of Abaiang. Nei Nikuao Lodge was temporarily closed down in 2004 due to unresolved landlease issues. However, renovation work has now begun to refurbish the lodge, and have it fully operational again, by the beginning of 2009. "Ouba Islet Resort" is an eco-tourism resort on Ouba island in the north-western perimeter of the atoll, which has been operating since July, 2006.

History

Koinawa cathedral (in 2009)

Monument in Koinawa to remember the arrival of Christianity on 18 November 1857

Main article: Gilbert Islands

Thomas Gilbert, sailing in the East India Company vessels Charlotte was the first European to describe visiting Aranuka, in June of 1788.^[1] Thomas Gilbert he named it Matthew Island, after the owner of his ship, the Charlotte. He named the lagoon, Charlotte Bay.

The first missionary to live in Kiribati arrived at Abaiang on 16 November 1857. He was Hiram Bingham II of the American Board, a Boston based missionary group. This Hiram Bingham was the son of Hiram Bingham I who was one of the first and most influential missionaries to Hawaii. Hiram Bingham II and his wife were accompanied to Abaiang by Hawaiian pastor Joel Hulu Mahoe and his wife.^[2] Bingham landed at the village of Koinawa and a memorial was erected at the spot during the centennial celebrations in 1957.

The Catholic community also has strong ties to Abaiang and completed the building of the imposing Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, also at Koinawa village, in October 1907. This work was done under the supervision of a priest from Belgium who was given the local name of Father Ioane. He lived and worked so long on Abaiang and became so well loved that the village of Borotiam was named in honour of his home country Belgium. Borotiam being the local vernacular for Belgium. This church recently celebrated its centennial with a fresh paint job and a celebration whose special guest was the current President.

The foremost institution of Abaiang is St. Josephs College. The Principal during the country's silver jubilee celebrations was Paul Chilton, a British migrant. St. Joseph's College was founded in 1939. In the past 65 years it has gone from strength to strength and is now a leading centre for learning in Kiribati. Its alumni include both current President His Excellency Anote Tong, and previous incumbent Teburoro Tito.

Towns and villages on Abaiang

All the following places lie on the biggest island of Abaiang:

• Aonobuaka
• Borotiam
• Koinawa
• Evena
• Morikao
• Tabontebike
• Tabwiroa
• Taburao
• Takarano
• Tanimaiaki
• Taniau
• Tebunginako
• Tuarabu
• Ubanteman

Transportation

Air

The atoll is served by Abaiang Atoll Airport on Abaiang Island, situated between the villages of Tabwiroa and Tuarabu. Air Kiribati connects Abaiang with Marakei and the international airport at South Tarawa.

References

1. ^ Samuel Eliot Morison (1944-05-22). "The Gilberts & Marshalls: A distinguished historian recalls the past of two recently captured pacific groups". Life magazine. http://books.google.ca/books?id=bk8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA91&dq=%22Thomas+Gilbert%22+captain+pacific&num=100&client=firefox-a#v=onepage&q=%22Thomas%20Gilbert%22%20captain%20pacific&f=false. Retrieved 2009-10-14. 
2. ^ The Centennial Book: One Hundred Years of Christian Civilzation in Hawaii 1820-1920. Central committee of the Hawaiian mission centennial. 1920. p. 49. http://books.google.com/books?id=2UkQAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA49#v=onepage. 

External Links

• Exhibit: The Alfred Agate Collection: The United States Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842 from the Navy Art Gallery

Coordinates: 2°00′N 173°00′E / 2°N 173°E / 2; 173