First Impressions, Solomon Islands

Initial impressions of Honiara were captured by three sections of Defence Force personnel who recently arrived to serve in the Solomon Islands.

06 August 2007

First Impressions - by 21 Alpha

Our first impressions of the Solomon Islands were heat, dust and dirt.  Even though we’d been warned, the poor living conditions and daily routines of the locals still surprised us.  However, Solomon Islands is beautiful and the beaches are amazing.  The locals are great people and very friendly.  It is a shame that we have to be here at all because the locals seem to be hard working and respectful people. 

We love the ocean, especially swimming in it.  The water is warm and is full of old war wrecks. Fish are visible under the water and we have to be on the look out for  sharks and crocodiles.

It has been interesting to visit the war memorials of World War 2 and learn the history of this country.  We now know that GI Joe was more than an action figure!

Sharing the experiences and knowledge of different people and nationalities within the Participating Police Force and Combined Task Force has been cool.  Everyone has been keen to pass on advice and tips.

The conditions and climate of the Solomon Islands reminded a few of us about previous deployments to Timor-Leste.  Some of us were a little nervous stepping off the plane onto the hot tarmac because we weren’t quite sure what to expect.  However, it provides great reassurance to have people among us who have been on deployment before.  The Kiwi’s we replace in the Solomon Island’s gave us an awesome welcome,  it was good to see some friendly and familiar faces.

The extremes of wealth and living conditions are strange.  Often you will see flash well kept places next to shacks and dirty huts or flash cars next to broken down ones.  We love to see how the people respond to us, especially the little ‘Pikinini’ (Pidgin English for Children) who always greet us with big smiles and waves.  We Kiwis seem to have a way of building an instant and lasting rapport with the locals. 

Despite the challenges they face, the people of the Solomon Islands have an inner beauty that really shines through in their manner and in their commitment to work and families. 

They are a people of amazing skill and dedication and we feel very privileged that they are willing to share their beautiful country and culture with us.

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First Impressions – by 21 Bravo

Having spent pre-deployment training in the relative cold environments across Ohakea, Waiouru and Wanganui, it was always expected that our arrival in Honiara, Solomon Islands, would be quite an experience. 

The much talked about heat and humidity of Solomon Islands was hard to imagine while in Waiouru where multiple layers of clothing were required and the term “hot“  was little employed.  Leaving on a mild morning from Ohakea, the first impression we had of the Solomon Islands was overbearing heat accompanied by a sterling haka from the soon to depart NZ Defence Force contingent.

First stop post departure from the airport was Guadalcanal Beach Resort (GBR) where we were supplied with updates on the current situation in the Solomon Islands and various standing orders. Now that we’d arrived we began to understand that the heat and humidity were not aberrations, but reality.

We then left for our present location, Vaucluse, where we will remain for the next couple of weeks.  We squeezed into tents with our incumbent section.  Most of them were still settling in from the old Forward Operating Base, Telekom. Things have progressed well in our first week here at Vaucluse.  The ablution block is almost finished on the outside and the promise of showers and toilets with running water grows more savory as its completion nears.

On the night of our arrival, our section left for what will likely be many patrols in support of the Participating Police Force (PPF).  This is the International Police force helping to build up the Solomon Islands Police Force into a credible Law Enforcement element.  We were buddied up with members of the attached section as part of their handover.  This first patrol was an opportunity to see and meet Solomon Island people in person for the first time.  It also allowed us to experience and explore one of the locations that we will be situated at over the next four months.

First impressions are often difficult to articulate.  However, our first patrol served to remind us that we are in a foreign country with a lot of images we may never see in New Zealand.  Images such as rubbish piled up on the side of the roads, burning or otherwise.  People walking, mostly barefoot, on the same roads.  Stands on the side of the road selling various things, including the much heard about Betel-nut that leaves the tell tale sign of stained teeth on the people that chew it.  Despite these images, the people are happy, friendly, and welcoming.  It is a rarity that a wave from one of us is not reciprocated, either by one in return, a smile or a thumbs up.  We even get thumbs up from the Solomon Island guards at GBR and a solid “kia ora”.  Members of the platoon that we replace leave with positive and enduring impressions from what they encountered here.  For us as a section, we are confident that we will take away similar lasting memories.

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First Impressions – by 21 Charlie

As we stepped out of the plane it felt good to be welcomed by the heat and by our fellow soldiers.  To know that we were in another country brought an immediate sense of accomplishment.

Our road trip to Guadalcanal Beach Resort (GBR), and then into Valcluse, made us appreciate the adequate water, showers and toilets that we have access to. 

The food is generally good and, considering our resource options, the meals fit for any soldier.

We were impressed with the efforts of our Australian colleagues to give us a good and functional Forward Operating Base, especially since it had only recently been setup.

The basic needs of soldiers are well met and we have the means to keep in touch with loved ones at home.

The people seem very friendly and sociable and are more than happy to interact with New Zealand personnel and vice-versa.  The Solomons has a lot of potential to make something good for themselves. 

Solomon Islands seem to have the same issues as New Zealand except on a different scale.The people themselves are very close, place high value on spirituality and culture and seem happy with the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) being there.

We love this place. What’s not to like?  The people are friendly, the weather is good and the country side is tumeke!

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