Telebere News

Hot on the heels of the annual Wogasia Festival in Santa Catalina, the people of Santa Ana have staged a major cultural event to welcome passengers on board the Silver Seas Cruise Lines’ Silver Cloud which visited on 26 May. The 250 passengers on board the ship vessel were treated to a traditional welcome ceremony, dancing and music before being accompanied on a number of tours showcasing the local culture. Silver Cloud passengers being entertained with traditional Santa Ana dancing. These included visits to the Santa Ana Airstrip, a Kastom Haus at Natagera Village, and the Wairafa and Wai Piapia freshwater lakes. Given the ship was anchored at Santa Ana for close on 10 hours, the passengers also had time to enjoy the environment, some snorkelling and shopping for the various local handicrafts on offer including wood and stone carvings, traditionally woven artefacts and jewellery. Tourism Solomons Acting CEO, Dagnal Dereveke said the visit by the cruise ship offered its passeng...

Building on its ongoing strategy to promote the huge range of cultural and adventure activities the Solomon Islands offers international visitors, Tourism Solomons last week hosted three prominent Australian and New Zealand travel writers. A key part of the national tourist office’s International Media Visitation Program (IMVP), the trio, – Vacations & Travel Editor Helen Hayes and freelancers Daniel Scott and Eleanor Hughes – took part in an immersive program designed to show the many different activities visitors can enjoy while visiting Munda, the Marovo Lagoon and Honiara. From left to right: Tourism Solomons Acting CEO, Dagnal Dereveke, Dan Scott, Helen Hayes, Tourism Solomons marketing officers Brenden Mautoa and Eldona Lokay, and Eleanor Hughes.   The group’s busy itinerary included cultural performances and village visits, SCUBA diving, snorkelling and island hopping in the Marovo Lagoon as well as being given insight into the destination’s unique WWII history in Mu...

  “Do your best and God will do the rest. If you don’t fail, you won’t learn anything. Mistakes make perfect.”   These are the words that guided Andrew Taylor Awa from the shores of South Malaita to the international academic stage—words now shared as motivation to young Solomon Islanders with dreams of achieving more.   Andrew Taylor Awa r ecently graduated with a Master of Laws degree , specializing in Human Rights, Social Justice, and Environmental Law from the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawai’i .   He honored God and his parents— Su’uri’i and Likimaea of South Malaita, for being the foundation of his journey and helping him reach this important milestone.   Andrew currently serves as the Solomon Islands National Delegate to the Commonwealth Youth Council and Board Secretary for Solomon Islands National Youth Congress, demonstrating his deep commitment to community service.   He said, “Based on my years of volunt...

From provincial clinics to national policy, Australia Awards alumnus Dr. Lazarus De Neko is leading transformative change in the Solomon Islands health sector, using his Australian education to bring impact where it matters most. A medical doctor by training and a dedicated public health leader, Dr. De Neko has served in various key roles, including Director of Health Services for Choiseul Province and later as Deputy Secretary Corporate for the Ministry of Health and Medical Services. Today, he serves as Program Manager for the Global Fund, where he oversees efforts to combat malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV in collaboration with global partners. Reflecting on his journey, Dr. De Neko credits the Australia Awards, which allowed him to undertake a dual Master of Public Health and Master of Business Administration at James Cook University from 2012 to 2014, as a defining chapter in his professional and personal life. “The scholarship really changed my outlook on how the health ser...

One of the best-known names on the Solomon Islands tourism scene for many years, the improbably named Fatboys Resort on Mbabanga Island near Gizo has now joined the ranks of the highly qualified dive outfits operating in the destination. The resort’s location in Gizo in the destination’s Western Province is perfect, the area renowned for some of the most diverse and exciting diving to be found anywhere in the world. From World War II wrecks to numerous offshore reefs, spectacular coral formations, plummeting walls, manta rays and abundant marine life, SCUBA enthusiasts are beyond spoilt for choice and divers can choose from a plethora of amazing locations.   Diving Joe’s Wall, Gizo, Solomon Islands .   "Grand Central Station’ boasts the highest fish count in the world with more than 275 species recorded in its teeming waters, ‘Joe’s Wall’ offers a spectacular wall dive starting in the sandy shallows of a small bay and continuing as a steep wall with depths over 60 metres. ...

Nominations are now open for the Australia Awards Alumni Climate Warrior Award. This award recognises Australia Awards Solomon Islands alumni who show exceptional leadership in climate intervention, environmental protection, and sustainability. The Alumni Climate Warrior Award celebrates alumni who address climate change and environmental challenges through innovative, sustainable solutions, activities, or policies for a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient environment. The alumni must demonstrate positive change to address environmental security challenges including climate change, pollution reduction (air, land, water, and marine), waste management, biodiversity conservation, renewable energy and the sustainable use of natural resources. Australia’s High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, His Excellency Rod Hilton, said Australia is committed to supporting and recognising the outstanding achievements of our Australia Awards alumni who are leading efforts to protect the environm...

A new partnership between Australia and JCS Enterprise will expand cocoa sourcing and market access for farmers in Northeast Guadalcanal.  Australian High Commissioner to Solomon  Islands, His Excellency Rod Hilton, welcomed the collaboration with JCS Enterprise. “This partnership is creating reliable markets for farmers, creating more local jobs, and enabling Solomon Islands cocoa to reach its full export potential”, High Commissioner Hilton said. Australian High Commissioner H.E Rod Hilton, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Hon. Franklyn Derek Wasi, and JCS Enterprise General Manager Jerry Sukulu proudly holding locally sourced cocoa, symbolising a shared commitment to strengthening the cocoa value chain and improving market access for rural farmers. Through this partnership, Australia will help JCS Enterprise pursue financing for a vehicle suited to the rough terrain in cocoa-growing areas east of the Bokokimbo River.  The partnership will also upgrade JCS’s coco...

Tucked away in the pristine Buena Vista region of the Florida Islands, Nugu Beach Bungalows beckon travelers seeking an authentic and tranquil island retreat.  Just a two-hour banana boat ride from Honiara, this secluded haven offers a blend of natural beauty, cultural immersion, and simple comforts. offexploring.com+2Tourism Solomons+2jouljet.blogspot.com+2 The bungalows, constructed with local materials and handcrafted wall panels, provide guests with a genuine Solomon Islands experience. Accommodations range from ensuite bungalows to those with shared facilities, catering to various preferences.  Visitors and local hosts gather under the shade of a coastal tree at Nugu Beach Bungalows in Central Province, Solomon Islands — a peaceful retreat where culture and community welcome travelers from near and far.  Photo credit:  Tourism Solomons Visitors can indulge in freshly prepared meals, often featuring locally sourced ingredients, and enjoy the warm hospitality of t...

Solomon Islands National University (SINU) will take immediate and decisive action to address the deteriorating conditions in its male student dormitories, following widespread criticism and concern voiced by the public on social media.   In a statement released on Saturday, 17 May 2025, SINU Vice Chancellor Professor Transform Agorau acknowledged the seriousness of the issue, calling the current state of the dormitories “unacceptable” and a departure from the university’s core values.   SINU Vice Chancellor Professor Transform Agorau addresses concerns over male dor mitory conditions during a recent public statement, pledging immediate reforms to improve student living standards.  Photo by SINU He said the living environment falls short of the standards expected at a national institution and emphasized the urgency of comprehensive reform.   “Our student dormitories are not just buildings—they are places where our young people live, study, and grow,” Professor Ago...