ABOUT BUTARITARI ISLAND

Welcome to Butaritari Island – The smell of the sea.

Butaritari (pronounced Pu-tari-tari) atoll is known as the first island to have the
Japanese and the Americans fierce involvement during the 2nd World War. Physical
evidence of WWII relics and other historical sites can still be seen nowadays.
Butaritari was once a home for Robert Louis Stevenson during the nineteenth
century, the first island to be sighted by first resident traders namely Randell and
Durant and has been the sites for a while of some of the first international trade.
Given its abundance of rain received in a year, Butaritari is one of the lush and
tropical islands with widely grown vegetation on it. Because of this, bananas and
pumpkin, apart from other food crops, are shipped to Tarawa for selling. Butaritari
also has a number of easily accessible reefs. Its very deep lagoon has made it as one
of the best harbors in the island group that can comfortably accommodate large
vessels. Butaritari is also famous for having the best spiritual weapons (black magic)
among the islands of Kiribati. Up to now, the number of people practicing this
knowledge is getting smaller and they use these spiritual weapons to make people
sick, paralyzed, mentally retarded or even dead. They can also use it to court a girl
or a boy. Other cultural shrines such as shrines for Te Binekua (calling of whales),
Kaobunang, and others have also been erected by the islanders which can also be
seen today.

Geography
Butaritari Island is located north of the equator and south to Makin Island with an
area of 13.6 square kilometers and a population of 3,280 (2005 Census). It is one of
the larger atolls in Kiribati with a width of 30 kilometers (east to west) and a length
of about 15 kilometers (north to south). It has many islets which are either linked by
channels or causeways. The lagoon is very open to exchange with the ocean making
the water cool for swimming. The main government headquarter is located at
Temwanokunuea village. Other villages also have clinics and police services on them.

History, Tradition and Culture

Butaritari was first sighted by Spanish explorer named Pedro Fernandez de Quiros in
1606 before John Marshall and Thomas Gilbert came upon several of the other
islands of Kiribati in 1788.
During World War II, Butaritari and Makin to the north were the first islands occupied
by the Japanese. On 9th December 1941, 200 to 300 troops landed on Ukiangang
and later the Americans came on the 20th November 1943. Most of the Japanese
positions were overrun on the second day of the American invasion of Butaritari.
Butaritari was also known as Makin South during WWII.

The knowledge of calling whales and dolphins was practiced in the past, especially in
Kuma village. This knowledge was only used during the village’s opening events
which involved big feast like opening of new maneaba for village, church or schools.
The formality of this started off when a person who was knowledgeable in this locked
himself up in a local house (buia) for three days before the opening of each new
maneaba. On the third day, he came out and whales were seen swimming up to the
shore and were taken for meat during the feast.

Traditionally, Butaritari and Makin were ruled by a chief who lived on Butaritari
Island. This chief has all the powers and authority to make and impose decision for
Butaritari and Makin. After Kiribati gained independence, the power and authority of
the chief no longer exist and the mayor and elderly men are elected and now
regarded as heads of the island that can make and impose decisions regarding the
community. Butaritari Island is now having its different head of state from Makin

The general setting up of Butaritari Island is naturally rural and people still depend
on sea and land for daily living and for earning income. The people of Butaritari
Island value the importance of family and respect of the elderly, guest hospitality,
cultural practices and coming together under the maneaba (traditional meeting
house) to socialize and feast.

Dress code is also restricted on the island. Casual wear is preferable and women are
not allowed to walk around with mini skirts or shorts. A skirt/short covered down to
your knees or wrapped around sulus and T-shirts are preferable.

Predominantly, the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant Church are the two
major denominations on the islands.

Traditional Welcome for First Time Visitors

Escorted starting from the far north east of the island, Kuma village, to the
South

Visit shrines of calling whales and Kaobunang at Kuma village.

Visit other remaining shrines on Butaritari

Visit Japanese and American base during World War II

Visit American airport, war relics which include bunkers, pontoons and
airplanes and other war memorial sites at Ukiangang village.

Visitors should be prepared to leave a gift, especially sticks of tobacco, at each of the
shrines.
The traditional welcoming custom of Butaritari Island can be performed on your first
day or second day of arrival.

Activities
Local activities are of numerous on the island and visitors can have a good time to
observe and participate in them. These activities include:

Picnics at historical and cultural sites (can be arranged upon request)

Boat trips to uninhabited islets (on hire services)

Reef, beach and island walking

Moonlight walking

Tour to cultural and historical sites to see shrines and World War II remaining
and wrecks.

Participating in any cultural practices that you like.

Other local entertainments are available on the island like dancing especially which
you can sit back and relax watching it. Arrangement needs to be done for this or if
visitors are in time with a big event where local dancing is part of it, visitors are
always welcomed to see and watch it. Don’t forget to bring your perfume as it is
custom to put the perfume on the dancers when they dance. If you don’t know
where to go, you can ask around the local people and they are usually most obliging.

FACT FILE
Accommodation Visit Japanese & American base
Island Council’s Guest House - American airport
Contact detail Visit war relics sites
Clerk to Island Council - bunkers, pontoons and airplanes.
Butaritari Island Visit war memorial sites at Ukiangang
Phone No: 35002/35003 Fax No: 35001 (Commemorated every 20th of November)

Parish Guesthouse Medical Services

Vaticano village Opens from 8:00am to 4:00pm from
Phone No: 35009 Monday to Friday. For emergency cases,
medical services are available 24 hrs every
TKK Guesthouse day. It is advisable that you bring extra
Temwanokunuea Medical supplies for your own needs.
Phone No: 35014 There’s no private pharmacy available on

How to get there? Food and Water Availability

Flight Schedule Local foods and collected rain water are
½ hour flight every Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays available at the guesthouse. It is advisable
Boat Schedule that you bring along extra bottled water for
Please contact the following shipping agents: your own need.
Kiribati Shipping Services Ltd
Email: kssl@tskl.net.ki
Phone No: (686) 26195 Fax No: (686) 26204 Transport
Super Cat & Super Carrier Office Motorbikes and bicycles can be rented at
Phone No: 50333 an affordable price.
Email: tiarite2002@yahoo.com
Kiribati Inter Island Shipping Services
Phone/Fax Nos: (686) 26839

Things to See & Do

Visit Kuma village
- Shrines of calling whales
- Kaobunang shrine (Natata Islet)
- Tenaotai shrine (Tikurere Islet)
For more information:
Please note that information given is only an overview due to space restrictions. So prior to travel,
please contact Umwanibong Cultural Center for further detailed information of Cultural/Historical
sites locations (GPS data) and others during working hours from Monday to Friday. Phone No: (686)
28283 or (686) 28695

DISCLAIMER STATEMENT:
Visitors should aware when traveling to Butaritari that facilities and services are limited and the island is
remote in nature. You will need flexibility in your plans to allow for instances where there may be
transport delays. Accommodation is basic and food will be what is available locally. It is highly
recommended that you take additional supplies of drinking water. Medical facilities are limited on the
islands to a local clinic and village nurse. Pharmaceuticals are not available and you will to ensure you
have any medications you may require and basic medical supplies. Please also ensure you have advised
family and friends of your travel plans and when you expect to return. Communications while on the island
may be limited, however most villages will have a public phone. It is also important to note that as a sign
of respect you will need to leave offerings at a number of the shines you visit. Tobacco/cigarettes are the
traditional offering. If you are interested in participating in any cultural activity please have it arranged
prior your travel or you can ask around the local people and they are usually most obliging.