Taare Rikiai

Butaritari Island in Kiribati commemorated the 80th anniversary of Te Kaukinangananga, the Battle of Butaritari (Makin), on Tuesday 21 November 2023 at Ukiangang. The event was attended by a visiting U.S.A Battlefield Tour group, U.S Embassy, Suva, Fiji personnel, officials from the Office of te Beretitenti (OB), Ministry of Tourism, Commerce, Industry & Cooperatives (MTCIC), government officials, and the people of Butaritari.

The event began with a March parade led by the Kiribati Police Service (KPS) and included pre- and primary school students and local communities. The children of Ukiangang Primary School then performed an re-enactment of the raid by the U.S. Army in November 1943.

In his official address to the Parade, U.S Army Lieutenant Colonel John-Paul Smock expressed how supremely impressed he was with the people of Ukiangang on their spirit of remembrance in keeping the memory of this important part of the island’s history alive.

Mr. Glenn Frizzell, 85 years old from the U.S.A, shared his impressions of the event. “I first attended this event 7 years ago and I am impressed at how involved the children of Butaritari honor the memory of the war,” he said.

Mr. Maretino Kamaunea, of Butaritari Island, shared his personal experience of the battle. “I was only 13 years old when the Americans raided our island in their assault on Japanese Forces in 1943,” he recalled. “We were made to dig caves to hide in. We remained in the cave for over 24 hours until we were certain that the fighting between the Americans and the Japanese had stopped.” He added, “there was only a small gap in which we could peek out from and we could tell the Japanese from the Americans by their boots.”

The event concluded with a sumptuous feast prepared by the people of Ukiangang.

The village of Ukiangang in Butaritari was brimming with excitement on October 25, 2023, as it hosted the passengers and crew of the MV National Geographic Resolution, which arrived on the island.

MV National Geographic Resolution is owned by Lindblad Bluewater II Ltd and carried 34 passengers and 103 crew members.

Visitors came ashore on zodiacs at Ukiangang Red Beach and were greeted by the Mayor, Clerk and Ukiangang village community of Butaritari. The cruise guests were transported to the community hall (Maneaba), where the entire village eagerly awaited to give them a warm welcome.
The atmosphere inside the Maneaba was alive with music, traditional dance performances, and guests dancing with the locals. Outside the Maneaba, guests were treated to a local culinary experience and a showcase on the importance of various parts of the coconut tree and how vital it is to the Kiribati way of life.

The event provided an opportunity for the villagers to promote sustainable tourism through guided tours to the unique mangroves of Butaritari, a WWII tour, and swimming and snorkelling at Bikati Islet Marine Protected Area.

In line with cruise visit, Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) made significant efforts to develop Community-Based Tourism on Butaritari. The initiative has played out well especially with the alignment of the cruise visit. This endeavour aims to harness the potential of tourism to benefit both the local community and for future of the cruise ships visitations to Butaritari. By aligning these efforts with cruise visits, Butaritari not only attracts tourists but also fosters a sustainable and mutually beneficial relationship between visitors and the local community. This approach helps preserve the island’s unique character while contributing to its economic and social well-being.

The cruise also made stops in both North and South Tarawa on October 26, 2023. Passengers and crew members enjoyed a morning swim and snorkelling at Naa’s end (North Tarawa) and later the ship docked at Betio Wharf, where they were greeted and entertained by a local choir and traditional Kiribati dances.

While on South Tarawa, passengers and some crew members went on guided sightseeing and WWII tours hosted by three of the tour guide operators in Kiribati, while others explored the island on their own.

The leader of the expedition, Phillip Andrew Wolff, said that the trip to Butaritari and Roteariki Islet was an amazing experience and that they are very much looking forward to an opportunity to return in the future.

The ship departed from Betio Wharf in the afternoon and received a final farewell with traditional Kiribati dance performance and warm goodbyes from local tour operators, dancers and staff of the Tourism Authority of Kiribati.

Ministry of Tourism, Commerce, Industry & Cooperatives (MTCIC) Secretary, Mr. Ruui Tabutoa and Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) CEO, Petero Manufolau joined industry experts, scholars, partners, and friends in Papeete, French Polynesia on 16 & 17 October 2023 for the 2nd Pacific Sustainable Tourism Leadership Summit.

The Pacific Sustainable Tourism Leadership Summit 2023 brought together changemakers, sustainable tourism leaders, and advocates for community, cultural, and environmental well-being. Participants at the summit engaged in discussions and collaborations aimed at putting sustainability into action.

French Polynesia President and Minister responsible for tourism, His Excellency Moetai Brotherson in his official address highlighted that tourism was a crucial driver of economic growth and job creation in the Pacific nations. He added that “to ensure its effectiveness, sustainability is paramount, especially in the face of pandemics, global shocks and climate change.”

In officiating the event, TAK CEO and Pacific Tourism Organisation Chairman Petero Manufolau stated that the summit theme of “Co-creating Resilient Destinations,” represented a resounding call to action, signifying an unwavering commitment to strengthening the approach to sustainable tourism in the Pacific region.

He stated that the SPTO, along with contributions from Pacific nations and various stakeholders, had set the wheels in motion with the development of the Pacific Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework.

18 Pacific Island nations have publicly declared their commitment to sustainable tourism at the national level, demonstrating unity and foresight in pursuing a shared vision for sustainable tourism. Manufolau said that “this collective achievement recognizes the individual commitments made by all participants towards this vital cause.”

The 2-day event concluded with the launch of the Pacific Sustainable Tourism Standards (PTSS). These standards will lead the way for innovative national sustainability standards, setting the bar for the tourism industry. It will provide guidance to destinations like Kiribati to work towards improved sustainability in their tourism sector.