Butaritari

Butaritari is the second most northerly atoll of the Gilbert Islands, with Makin, located just to the northeast, being a name used by the U.S. Military for the larger Butaritari atoll during the Second World War. It is a roughly four-sided string of islets around a large lagoon, nearly 30 kilometres across. The total population is about 3,300. There is good rainfall, and it is one of the lushest of the Gilbert islands. Butaritari has a powerful traditional culture, with dancing in the “maneaba” meeting halls.

View over Butaritari atoll, in the north of Kiribati.

The 18-seat three-engined Britten-Norman Trislander of Air Tungaru on the airport near the village of Butaritari.

View of the coast on Butaritari atoll, near the village of the same name.

The wreck of a Japanese Mitsubishi G4M “Betty” bomber on the beach of the lagoon in Butaritari village.

A Chinese-style house in the village of Butaritari.

Girls of Ukiangang, the southernmost village on Butaritari atoll.

Children of Ukiangang, the southernmost village on Butaritari atoll.

Women playing cards in the village of Ukiangang.

Boys carrying coconuts, near Ukiangang village.

Boys carrying containers made from coconuts, for holding "te karewe", palm toddy, near Ukiangang village.

The men singing in the Maneaba “Te Aake”, the meeting house in the village of Ukiangang.

Girls performing traditional Gilbertese dancing in the Maneaba “Te Aake” in Ukiangang.

A girl performing traditional Gilbertese dancing in the Maneaba “Te Aake”, Ukiangang.

Girls performing traditional Gilbertese dancing in the Maneaba “Te Aake”.

Girls performing traditional Gilbertese “sit-down” dancing,

Traditional Gilbertese “sit-down” dance.

Girls in their traditional dancing costumes in Ukiangang, southern Butaritari atoll.

Gilbertese dancing in the Maneaba “Te Aake” in Ukiangang, Butaritari atoll.

Men performing traditional Gilbertese “sit-down” dancing.

Gilbertese dancing with music on a small keyboard and guitar.

The dance group of the Maneaba “Te Aake” in Ukiangang, Butaritari atoll.

The maneaba in Kuma, the easternmost village on Butaritari atoll.

Men with their canoe in the lagoon in Kuma.

The maneaba and houses in Kuma, the easternmost village on Butaritari atoll.

In the Maneaba “Te Nanoraoi”, the meeting hall in Kuma village.

A speech by one of the “unimane”, a senior man, in the Maneaba “Te Nanoraoi” in Kuma village.

Traditional singing in the Maneaba “Te Nanoraoi” in Kuma village, in the north of Butaritari atoll.

Singing and dancing with costume designs representing Halley's Comet, in the Maneaba “Te Nanoraoi” in Kuma.

Singing and dancing with costume designs representing Halley's Comet, in the Maneaba “Te Nanoraoi”, Kuma village.

Flying over the islet of Ubantakoto, in the northeast of Butaritari atoll.