Abaiang

Abaiang, just north of Tarawa, is a coral atoll with a large lagoon. Its main island, Teiro, has about 18 villages, from Takarano in the north to Tabontebike in the south. About halfway is Koinawa, with its large Our Lady of the Rosary Church, completed in 1907 when the village had a Belgian priest, Father Ioane, by its congregation. The total population is about 6,000. Abaiang was where the first missionary in Kiribati, Hiram Bingham II, arrived in 1857.

Passengers on the catamaran “Baurua” sailing between Tarawa and Abaiang atoll.

The village of Tabontebike in the south of Abaiang atoll.

Taateta Primary School with traditionally built classrooms, just south of Tabontebike.

The lagoon, looking from Tanimaiaki to Tabontebike.

Houses in Tebanga, between Tanimaiaki and Tabontebike in the south of Abaiang atoll.

The maneaba (meeting house) and houses in Tanimaiaki,village

In Tuarabu village, in the souteast of Abaiang atoll.

Getting copra, the dried white flesh of a coconut, from which coconut oil is extracted, in Tuarabu village.

Children with coconut shells, after copra has been extracted.

Snappy Arawatau and his son Frenny, fishing in the lagoon in Tuarabu.

Village scene in Tuarabu, in the southeast of Abaiang atoll.

Marlyna at a sewing machine, with children at home in Tuarabu.

Frenny Arawatau, cutting palm leaves, with his sister Rita, in Tuarabu.

Children marching into class at St John Primary School on Abaiang atoll.

Children making patterns with shells in school, Tuarabu.

Classroom in St John Primary School on Abaiang atoll.

Young children writing on slates in St Jihn Primary School on Abaiang atoll.

Evening meal at a farewell party in the “Morairiki Hotel” in Tuarabu.

Boys bodysurfing near the airstrip in Tabwiroa, east Abaiang.

Girls dancing at a farewell party in Tabwiroa School, east Abaiang.

Men singing, in Nauru T-shirts, Tabwiroa School.

Boys and girl students dancing at a farewell party in Tabwiroa School.

Boys performing a “sit-down” dance at a school party in Tabwiroa.

Taburao village, the main station on Abaiang atoll.

Children of Koinawa village, Abaiang atoll.

A small school on the shore near Borotiam, between Koinawa and Tebunginako.

The road in the village of Tebunginako, in the north east of Abaiang.

The beach on the lagoon at Tebunginako village.

Young women making a concrete kitchen sink in the village of Takarano, in the northeast of Abaiang atoll.

View to the south of Abaiang atoll, just north of Tarawa.