Owariki

Template: Infobox Island / Maintenance / image missing

Owariki or Owa Riki, formerly Santa Catalina is an island in the Solomon Islands. It is part of the province of Makira and Ulawa of the island nation of the Solomon Islands.

Geography

The small coral island is 3.2 km long and 2.1 km wide and reaches a height of 97 meters. It is, by a 7.5 km wide strait from the island of Makira (formerly San Cristobal ) separately, in the Pacific. 2.8 km north of it the slightly larger island is Owaraha (formerly Santa Ana ). In between is the Paraghawa Strait. On the island there are three villages: Naparaomafal, Mwamwako and Raghapu.

History

In 1932, the Austrian anthropologist and photographer Hugo Bernatzik visited the two neighboring islands and documented the lives of residents. He was convinced that this culture could not withstand the growing pressure of Western civilization. His book Owa Raha was published in 1936 in Vienna.

Language and Culture

On Owariki and Owaraha belong to the inhabitants of the same culture as the inhabitants of the south-eastern tip of the island of Makira. Their language is the Owa - language that has the language code according to ISO 639-3 stn. The previous name was Santa Ana language. Since 1938 the Church of England Church of the Province of Melanesia prints various publications in this language.

In March is celebrated on the Owariki Yamfestival and in May or June, the Wogasia hard.

Tourism

Owariki and Owaraha be run from time to time by cruise ships. Otherwise, the island in up to four hours to reach ride a motorized canoe from the provincial capital Kirakira on Makira.