The National Museum of Solomon Islands in Honiara holds traditional shell money, wooden carvings, and ceremonial objects from across the archipelago. The museum opened in 1969 and documents shell currency systems that involved hours of hand-shaping tiny Malaitan shell discs into strings worth specific bride prices or compensation payments. War clubs on display show the variety of regional fighting styles before colonial contact. The building itself is modest and air conditioning is limited, so morning visits are cooler. Photography policies vary by exhibit section.
Vilu War Museum on the northwest coast of Guadalcanal displays rusting artillery pieces, American fighter planes, and Japanese field guns scattered across an outdoor site along the beach. The museum sits approximately nine kilometers from Honiara airport. Wrecked aircraft include a P-39 Airacobra and remnants of Japanese Zeros, though jungle growth and coastal corrosion have degraded metal components since the 1942-1945 fighting. Signs provide basic identification but lack detailed battle context. The site is privately operated and charges a small entry fee. Transport requires hiring a vehicle as public buses do not service this coastal stretch reliably.
Iron Bottom Sound between Guadalcanal and the Florida Islands contains more than fifty Allied and Japanese ships sunk during naval battles in 1942-1943. The name derives from the tonnage of steel resting on the seafloor. Dive operators in Honiara run trips to wrecks including USS Atlanta, a light cruiser sunk during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on November 13, 1942, resting at depths between thirty and forty meters. Visibility ranges from ten to thirty meters depending on weather and runoff. Strong currents occur during tidal changes. Some wrecks are war graves and divers are expected to treat them accordingly. Certification requirements vary by operator but advanced open water certification is standard for deeper wrecks.
Tetepare Island in Western Province covers approximately 118 square kilometers and has no permanent human settlement. The indigenous population relocated to nearby islands in the mid-19th century for reasons that remain historically unclear. The island supports intact lowland rainforest, crocodile populations, and nesting sites for leatherback turtles. Tetepare Descendants Association manages conservation and permits day visits or overnight stays in basic eco-lodges. Access requires boat transfer from Munda or Gizo, taking approximately one to two hours depending on sea conditions. Guided walks focus on megapode nesting mounds and tree species. Crocodiles inhabit coastal areas and rivers, requiring caution near water.
Marovo Lagoon on New Georgia is a double-barrier enclosed lagoon stretching approximately seventy kilometers. The outer reef system separates the lagoon from the Pacific, while an inner barrier creates sheltered water between forested islands. Villages along the lagoon maintain customary marine tenure systems that predate colonial administration. Visitors typically stay in family-run guesthouses on Gatokae Island, Telina Island, or villages around Seghe. Activities include snorkeling on inner reefs, visiting skull shrines in caves, and observing woodcarving at village workshops. Transport within the lagoon uses outboard canoes. Weather determines daily schedules as wind and rain limit small boat movement.
Skull shrines on several islands contain human skulls arranged on rock shelves or in cave alcoves. These represent ancestral remains kept for traditional worship practices that continued into the mid-20th century. Access to shrines requires permission from local chiefs and usually involves a guide and payment of customary fees. Photography rules vary by site and community. Some communities on New Georgia and Vangunu maintain these shrines as cultural heritage sites and allow respectful visits. Others restrict access to descendants or specific ceremonial occasions. Christian conversion reduced active worship at most shrines but cultural significance persists.
East Rennell became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998 as the largest raised coral atoll in the world. The island covers approximately 660 square kilometers with Lake Tegano occupying the former lagoon area. The lake contains approximately 160 square kilometers of brackish water, surrounded by limestone cliffs and dense forest. Endemic bird species include the Rennell starling and Rennell fantail. Access requires charter flight from Honiara to Tingoa airstrip or irregular cargo boat service that can take multiple days. Accommodation exists in village guesthouses. Logging operations on the western side of the island have created tension with UNESCO, which placed East Rennell on the World Heritage in Danger list in 2013 due to logging impacts near the inscribed area.
Central Market in Honiara operates daily along the Honiara waterfront with peak activity in early morning. Vendors sell betel nut, fresh fish, root vegetables including taro and cassava, tropical fruits, and bundles of greens. The market building was reconstructed after fire damage and rioting in 2006 during civil unrest. Shell money from Malaita appears occasionally, sold by individual makers who bring strings to the market. Prices fluctuate based on shellfish availability and grinding labor. Coconut crabs appear when seasonal harvest permits, typically sold live and commanding high prices relative to reef fish. Hygiene standards vary and seafood should be thoroughly cooked.