Tarawa - Republic Of Kiribati

TARAWA

Republic of Kiribati

Kiribati canoes line the shore of
South Tarawa lagoon before the start of a race.

Opening of Kiribati new Parliament House, 2000

Male dancers at sunset, Bairiki, South Tarawa

Kiribati girls performing te buki on Tarawa

Tarawa is not a single town but a group of islets surrounded by a coral atoll, and apart from the south where causeways link the islets, one will need a boat to navigate around the main features.

tarawa

The International Airport is on Bonriki in the southeast corner; the main hospital, Nawerewere, is located at Bikenibeu. The central Government offices, Parliament building, President's Office and Resident, Central Post Office, Telecommunications Services Kiribati Limited (TSKL), Library and Archives, and various other official buildings, including the Air Kiribati Travel Agency are all on Bairiki islet. Betio islet, probably the most popular in Kiribati, has the port, shipyard and main power station, and it is where you'll go if you need to cool your heels overnight in jail! Betio also has a large number of War relics (World War 2), after fierce fighting during a major marine assault in 1943 (the Battle of Tarawa). On Ambo islet, the "greens" of the Golf Course are rolled sands.

Lagoon at low tide and village scene, South Tarawa



Immaculate Heart College, a co-educational college administered by the
Roman Catholic Church, is located at Taborio, North Tarawa.

Left: Dormitory for girls. Right: Maneaba - meeting house for girls

Immaculate Heart College -
Winning students at inter-schools choir/dancing competition

Tarawa is one of the most densely populated areas in the Pacific, and it is estimated that by the year 2010, it could have a similar population density to Hong Kong!