Neglected Voices

Lord Howe Settler Highlight Challenges and Perceptions of Government Inattention, Believing Her Polynesian Identity Affects Response

By Jeremy Gwao

“Sometimes I thought to myself, maybe because we are Polynesians, the government does not take much notice of us,” says Gloria Kalale from the Lord Howe settlement in Honiara. The challenges faced by Lord Howe (Ontong Java) settlers are not new. The settlement is home to the Polynesian people of the Solomon Islands from Ontong Java for many years.

Historical Context and Migration

Ontong Java is a coral atoll in the Solomon Islands and one of the so-called Polynesian outliers. The name “Ontong Java” was given in 1643 by Dutch explorer Abel Tasman. In 1791, Captain Hunter of the Waaksamhey’d named it “Lord Howe’s Group.” In official publications, it is listed as “Ontong Java,” though some Solomon Islanders refer to it as “Lord Howe.” Ontong Java Atoll is also known as “Luangiua” or “Lord Howe Atol. Ontong Java is one one of the largest atoll in the world. It has 23 passages into the lagoon and more than 100 islets.

Migration to Honiara by the Ontong Java people occurred between the 1940s and 1960s from Luangiua (Ontong Java), driven by limited resources and rumors of employment opportunities post-World War II. The chief of Lord Howe Settlement recalls how Luangiua could not sustain everyone, making Honiara a “beacon of hope.”

Ontong Java Atoll – A Brief History

Europeans discovered Ontong Java Atoll in 1616 and visited it occasionally over the next two centuries. In the 19th century, local hostility towards traders and whalers led the British to bombard the atoll in 1875 after attackers killed a trading ship’s crew. Traders then set up permanent businesses there. Germany administered the atoll from 1893 to 1900, then Britain took control and included it in the British Solomon Islands Protectorate. After the Solomon Islands gained independence in 1978, Ontong Java became part of Malaita Province.

Cultural Preservation Amid Modern Challenges

Despite the urban migration, the people of Luangiua maintain their distinct culture, customs, and language, actively participating in public events such as Independence Day celebrations. The settlement continues to practice the traditional Ontong Java chiefly system, with the chief supported by a Honiara-based committee handling village health, law and order and potential relocation discussions after severe weather events.

*Dancers from Ontong Java (Project Survival via Flickr)*

Growing Population and Limited Space

Overcrowding is just one of the many persistent challenges. The settlement is bordered by the National Referral Hospital, the main street, the river and the sea. The settlement is vulnerable to flooding from three sides: the sea, the river and surface runoff from the adjacent high ground. Extensive flooding has plagued the community in the past, and these issues have been reported time and time again by the residents. The majority of new arrivals seek refuge with relatives due to the scarcity of space for new housing.

Community Efforts to Combat Flooding

Residents have taken proactive measures to protect their homes. Houses have been raised on stilts and stabilized with sand, and a drainage channel has been constructed along the southern end of the community. Additionally, a landfill project by a local businessman, intended for container storage, inadvertently provided shoreline protection. Despite these efforts, erosion has claimed around 10 meters of the landfill over the past five years, leaving only 20 to 30 meters intact. This raises concerns about the settlement’s future over the next decade or two.

Slow Government Response

“Even though we live in Honiara, the response has been slow,” says Bartholomew, a 24-year-old youth leader. Concerned for his community, Bartholomew points out the challenges from rising sea levels and the expanding Mataniko River, which cause land loss. “Even though people know about our community and the challenges we face, the response remains slow,” he reiterates.

*Bartholomew pointing to where the sea and water has risen to cover land where he used to play as a child*

Government Relocation Guidelines

The Solomon Islands Government in 2022 received Planned Relocation Guidelines funded by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). These guidelines outline how to manage relocations before, during and after the process. They aim to help the Government and partners conduct relocations safely, uphold rights, and ensure effectiveness, providing lasting solutions for those affected by climate change and environmental changes. The guidelines support relocating communities from vulnerable areas and enhancing their resilience to disasters and environmental degradation.

Future Expectations

The Lord Howe people hope the government will address their plight and provide solutions. Youth leader Bartholomew sees government support as crucial amid overcrowding and climate change. The community expects local and national authorities to collaborate on relocation decisions with community leaders, but there appears to be little urgency so far.