Abaiang
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Abaiang, also spelled Apaiang, sometimes called Apiaia, and formerly named Charlotte Island, Matthews or Six Isles, is a coral atoll of Kiribati, located in the west-central Pacific Ocean.
[edit] Geography
Abaiang Atoll comprises 30 islets, two of which had now been reduced to just rock. The main island, Ribono and Nuotaea are inhabited. All the other islands are uninhabited. Abaiang is in the northern Gilberts with a total land area of 6 square miles. The atoll has a lagoon (16 by 5 miles (26 by 8 km)) that provides sheltered anchorage.
In the southwest of Abaiang there is a channel, the Bingham Channel, which is the basic conjunction between the lagoon and the Pacific. The channel is between the biggest island of Abaiang (in the east) and a very little island in the southwest of Abaiang called Teirio.
There are two guest houses on Abaiang: one at St. Joseph's College, and another one at Stephen Whitmee High School at Morikao, near to Koinawa village on the main island. "Nei Nikuao Hotel", the Council operated hotel at Tabontebike village has closed down since the year 2004. However, there is also a lodge called "Ouba Island Fishing Lodge" on Ouba islet in the northwestern perimeter of the atoll, which has just been operating since July of 2006. The island lodge can accommodate up to 12 people at any one time. It caters for both fishing and non-fishing guests alike. Contact ecschutz-ouba@hotmail.com for further information regarding "Ouba Island Fishing Lodge".
[edit] History
Captain Thomas Gilbert was the European discoverer (1788); he named it Charlotte Island, after the owner of his ship, the Charlotte. The first missionary to live in Kiribati arrived at Abaiang on 16 November 1857. He was Hiram Bingham of the American Board, a Boston based missionary group. Hiram Bingham himself being the son of the Hiram Bingham who was one of the first and most influential missionaries to Hawaii. Indeed Hiram Bingham the second and his wife were accompanied to Abaiang by a Hawaiian pastor and his wife. Bingham landed at the village of Koinawa and a memorial was erected at the spot during the centennial celebrations in 1957. The Catholic community also has strong ties to Abaiang and completed the building of the imposing Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, also at Koinawa village, in October 1907. This work was done under the supervision of a priest from Belgium who was given the local name of Father Ioane. He lived and worked so long on Abaiang and became so well loved that the village of Borotiam was named in honour of his home country Belgium. Borotiam being the local vernacular for Belgium. This church recently celebrated its centennial with a fresh paint job and a celebration whose special guest was the current President.
The foremost institution of Abaiang is St. Josephs College. The Principal during the country's silver jubilee celebrations was Paul Chilton, a British migrant. St. Joseph's College was founded in 1939. In the past 65 years it has gone from strength to strength and is now a leading centre for learning in Kiribati. Its alumni include both current President His Excellency Anote Tong, and previous incumbent Teburoro Tito.
[edit] Towns and villages on Abaiang
All the following places lie on the biggest island of Abaiang:
| Aonobuaka |
| Borotiam |
| Evena |
| Morikao |
| Tabontebike |
| Tabwiroa |
| Taburao |
| Takarano |
| Tanimaiaki |
| Taniau |
| Tebunginako |
| Tuarabu |
| Ubanteman |
Republic of Kiribati | ||
|---|---|---|
| Gilbert Islands | Abaiang · Abemama · Aranuka · Arorae · Beru · Butaritari · Kuria · Maiana · Marakei · Makin · Nikunau · Nonouti · Onotoa · Tabiteuea · Tamana · Tarawa | Image:Flag of Kiribati.svg |
| Phoenix Islands | Abariringa · Birnie Island · Enderbury Island · Manra Island · McKean Island · Nikumaroro · Orona · Rawaki Island | |
| Line Islands | Caroline Island · Flint Island · Kiritimati · Malden Island · Starbuck Island · Tabuaeran · Teraina · Vostok Island | |
| West of Gilberts | Banaba | |
de:Abaiang
el:Αμπαϊάνγκ
es:Abaiang
fr:Abaiang
gl:Abaiang
it:Abaiang
he:אבאיאנג
lt:Abajangas
ru:Абаианг
fi:Abaiang
sv:Abaiang
