Arorae

Arorae is the southernmost atoll in the Gilbert Islands, 600 km south of South Tarawa. The island is 9 kilometres in length and, at its widest point, 1 kilometre wide, without a lagoon. There are only two villages on the island: Tamaroa in the north and Roreti in the south. The government station, with the Island Council, schools, and services, is located at Taribo, halfway between the two villages. The total population is almost 1,000.

“Te Atibu ni Borau” or “navigational stones”, at the northern tip of Arorae island. This set of stones (dating from circa 1000–1500 CE) marked out the initial directions for voyages to the other islands, but are no longer visible from the sea.

In Tamaroa, the northernmost village on Arorae, the southernmost island of Kiribati.

The road, going north, between Taribo and Tamaroa village.

The Protestant church in Taribo, on the west coast of Arorae island.

The path to the sea in the village of Taribo.

Carrying bags of copra to the beach in Taribo, to be taken by dinghy to the ship “Nei Momi“ anchored offshore.

The dinghy carrying bags of copra, with local boys on top of it, off the beach in Taribo.

Loading bags of copra to the beach of Taribo.

On the road walking south from Taribo to Roreti.

Two girls along the road between Taribo and Roreti.

Battered houses along the lagoon in Roreti village, in the south of Arorae island, south Kiribati.

A feast to celebrate the one-month birthday of a baby, in the maneaba (meeting house) of Roreti village, in the south of Arorae island.

During the feast to celebrate the one-month birthday of a baby, in Roreti maneaba.

Young men having their meal outside the maneaba of Roreti village.