DOCSLIB.ORG

2.2 Kiribati Aviation

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

2.2 Kiribati Aviation Key airport information may also be found at: http://worldaerodata.com/ There are 2 international airports in Kiribati: Bonriki International Airport on Tarawa Island Cassidy International Airport on Kiritimati Island Additionally Kiribati has another 22 domestic airports, 19 of which are recognised by IATA and/or ICAO ,and 18 that provide scheduled domestic airline services. Atoll/Island Island group ICAO IATA Airport name Number of Number of destinations airlines Kiritimati Line Islands PLCH CXI Cassidy International 1 2, 2 international Airport Tarawa Gilbert Islands NGTA TRW Bonriki International 4 17 of which 5 only offer a one-way service (no return flight), 4 Airport interational Domestic airports featuring scheduled services Abaiang Gilbert Islands NGAB ABF Abaiang Atoll Airport 2 2 Abemama Gilbert Islands NGTB AEA Abemama Atoll Airport 2 2 of which 1 only offers a one-way service (no return flight) Aranuka Gilbert Islands NGUK AAK Aranuka Airport 2 2 of which 1 only offers a one-way service (no return flight) Arorae Gilbert Islands NGTR AIS Arorae Island Airport 2 3 of which 2 only offer a one-way service (no return flight) Page 1 Beru Island Gilbert Islands NGBR BEZ Beru Island Airport 2 2 Butaritari Gilbert Islands NGTU BBG Butaritari Atoll Airport 2 3 of which 1 only offers a one-way service (no return flight) Kuria Gilbert Islands NGKT KUC Kuria Airport 2 2 Maiana Gilbert Islands NGMA MNK Maiana Airport 2 1 Makin Gilbert Islands NGMN MTK Makin Airport 2 1 Marakei Gilbert Islands NGMK MZK Marakei Airport 2 3 of which 1 only offers a one-way service (no return flight) Nikunau Gilbert Islands NGNU NIG Nikunau Airport 2 1 Nonouti Gilbert Islands NGTO NON Nonouti Airport 2 2 Onotoa Gilbert Islands NGON OOT Onotoa Airport 2 1 Tabiteuea Gilbert Islands NGTE TBF Tabiteuea North Airport 2 6 of which 2 only offer a one-way service (no return flight) Tabiteuea Gilbert Islands NGTS TSU Tabiteuea South Airport 2 2 Tamana Gilbert Islands NGTM TMN Tamana Airport 2 2 of which 1 only offers a one-way service (no return flight) Airports lacking scheduled services Kanton Phoenix PCIS CIS Canton Island Airport Island Islands Kiritimati Line Islands Aeon Airfield Tabuaeran Line Islands PLFA TNV Tabuaeran Island Airport Tarawa Gilbert Islands Hawkins Field Teraina Line Islands TNQ Teraina Airfield Butaritari, Abemama, Tabiteuea North and Nikunau airfields can all accommodate up to Dash 8 aircraft; the remainder are limited to Twin Otter aircraft. Kanton is currently being upgraded to accommodate up to 737 aircraft. Problems are experienced periodically with maintenance at outer island airstrips, but local capacity is adequate to handle these problems using equipment available to island councils. The Civil Aviation Authority of Kiribati, known as a Civil Aviation Division a Governmental divisions under the Ministry of Information, Communications, Transport and Tourism Development (MICTTD), is responsible for all Aviation activities in the country including the facilitation of requests for non- scheduled International Air operators wishing to use the Kiribati airport (landing permit) or Kiribati Airspace (Overfly Permit). Kiribati Aviation Investment Project (KAIP) has a project that aims to improve operational safety and oversight of international air transport infrastructure in Kiribati. This will include the upgrade of the Bonriki terminal in South Tarawa and a larger terminal and more sophisticated screening facilities at Cassidy International Airport on Christmas Island. The funding will also allow for the completion of seawall works on the Tarawa runway to protect from coastal erosion. Overall, international capacity is adequate for current requirements. On a national level there is an ongoing plan to ensure all inhabited islands are serviced by air. For more information on government agency and airport company contact information, please see the following links: 4.1 Government Contact List and 4. 5 Airport Companies Contact List Procedures for Foreign Registered Aircraft 1. CAAK is responsible for landing permits in respect to non-scheduled flights. 2. In regards to the Kiribati upper airspace, Airports Fiji Limited (AFL) provides oceanic Air Traffic Management (ATM) services in the upper airspace of the Nadi Flight Information Region (FIR). The sovereign territories of Kiribati lie within the Nadi FIR, therefore, it's AFL that controls the Kiribati upper airspace. Please liaise with them on this matter. 3. For the registration of foreign aircrafts, please refer to the attached file for more information. Page 2 Additionally, the CAAK requires 3-5 working days to process landing permits. Listed below are the documents needed when applying for a landing permit: a) copy of general declaration; b) a valid certificate of airworthiness for an aircraft; c) a valid aircraft insurance; d) certificate of registration; e) passport biodata of crews and passengers. A landing fee and parking fee is part of this process. A landing fee shall be payable in respect to any landing of an aircraft at a specified airport on each journey from a place outside and within Kiribati, at the following rate: a) at a maximum take-off weight (MTW) of up to 5,700 kg : $15 (fixed) b) from 5,701 kg to 15,000 kg: $5.00 per 1,000 kg or part thereof c) from 15,001 kg to 40,000 kg: $6.00 per 1,000 kg or part thereof d) from 40,001 kg to 50,000 kg: $7.50 per 1,000 kg or part thereof e) above 50,000 kg: $15.00 per 1,000 kg or part thereof. Parking fees for such visiting aircrafts will be charged at a rate of $100.00 for the first three hours and beyond that, at a rate of $10.00 per hour or part thereof. For more information on procedures for foreign registered aircraft, please see the following attachments: 5.2 Appendix Foreign Air Transport Operator Certification Page 3.
Recommended publications
  • Tabiteuea South Social and Economic Report 2008 3 of 3

    Tabiteuea South Social and Economic Report 2008 3 of 3

    CHAPTER 5: TE TABOMOA – ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES, INFRASTRUCTURE AND UTILITIES A. ISLAND ECONOMY 5.1 Subsistence Economy A subsistence economy is one where people perform traditional activities to meet their individual and group needs for security, and have no reason to accumulate wealth except to ensure their future survival. In such a system, the concept of wealth does not exist hence there is a high degree of reliance on renewal and reproduction within the natural environment. The nature of the subsistence economy is reflected in the social organization of families, who join together to form large kinship groups (kaainga) which survive according to a set of rules and roles. Each member of a kaainga performs a different set of activities which are assigned on the basis of gender and age. It is important for the survival of the group that each member fulfils the roles and responsibilities assigned to him/her. Typical subsistent activities include fishing, toddy cutting, cultivation and harvesting of food crops mainly coconut, pandanus, breadfruit and bwabwai, weaving mats, making thatches, rolling string, fetching water, collecting firewood, making fish traps and hooks, cleaning and washing, cooking and house construction amongst others. Most of these activities are performed by the adult members of the family, while it falls upon the younger members to collect firewood and fetch water, clean the dishes, the compound, and assist the adult members to do the easy part of their chores. Unfortunately, subsistence living is slowly disappearing and being replaced by a cash economy where most subsistence activities are now not only catered towards subsistence living but also to generate income to pay for the basic necessities that are now found in the shops/stores.
  • Hard Custom, Hard Dance : Social Organisation, (Un)

    Hard Custom, Hard Dance : Social Organisation, (Un)

    PETRA M. AUTIO HARD CUSTOM, HARD DANCE SOCIAL ORGANISATION, (UN)DIFFERENTIATION AND NOTIONS OF POWER IN A TABITEUEAN COMMUNITY, SOUTHERN KIRIBATI Academic Dissertation to be publicly discussed, by due permission of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Helsinki, in Auditorium XII of the Main Building, April 17th, 2010, at 10 a.m. PETRA M. AUTIO HARD CUSTOM, HARD DANCE SOCIAL ORGANISATION, (UN)DIFFERENTIATION AND NOTIONS OF POWER IN A TABITEUEAN COMMUNITY, SOUTHERN KIRIBATI Research Series in Anthropology University of Helsinki Academic Dissertation Research Series in Anthropology University of Helsinki, Finland Distributed by Helsinki University Press P.O. Box 4 (Vuorikatu 3 A) 00014 University of Helsinki Finland fax +358-9-7010 2374 http://www.yliopistopaino.fi ISSN 1458-3186 ISBN 978-952-10-6150-9 (paperback) ISBN 978-952-10-6151-6 (PDF) Helsinki University Print Helsinki 2010 To my daughter Oili Raakel Maria CONTENTS List of illustrations vii Notes on names, citations and typographical conventions viii Acknowledgements ix 1. INTRODUCTION 1 Social Differentiation, Undifferentiation and Power in Southern Kiribati 3 Kiribati Introduced 11 The Kiribati Custom 15 Tabiteuea and Its Northern District 17 Tabiteuean Custom and Its Hardness 19 Kiribati Studied 21 Fieldwork and Research Questions 27 The Approach and Course of Chapters 29 2. THE ANCESTOR WITHOUT DESCENDANTS: DIFFERENTIATION AND NOTIONS OF POWER IN TABITEUEA 33 Chiefs Are Forbidden? Myth, history, concept 33 Story of the Story 36 The Story of Kourabi (Karakin Kourabi) 42 Lines of power: The Karongoa clan 46 The apical ancestor: Tematawarebwe the first-born 50 Children of many fathers 52 The twofold ancestor: Akau the younger brother 53 Karongoa clan and power 56 Dualities and Transformation of Power 58 Power in the (Un)making 62 Making men, making chiefs 64 Making women 68 Binding but Not Unbinding: Remaining tabu 76 Power in his things 77 Power in the bones 80 Summary: Differentiation and its cut-off point 83 3.
  • Maiana Social and Economic Report 2008

    Maiana Social and Economic Report 2008

    M AIANA ISLAND 2008 SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROFILE PRODUCED BY THE MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS, WITH FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE UNITED NATION DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE SECRETARIAT OF THE PACIFIC COMMUNITY. Strengthening Decentralized Governance in Kiribati Project P.O. Box 75, Bairiki, Tarawa, Republic of Kiribati Telephone (686) 22741 or 22040, Fax: (686) 21133 MAIANA ANTHEM MAIANA I TANGIRIKO MAIANA I LOVE YOU Maiana I tangiriko - 2 - FOREWORD by the Honourable Amberoti Nikora, Minister of Internal and Social Affairs, July, 2007 I am honored to have this opportunity to introduce this revised and updated socio-economic profile for Maiana island. The completion of this profile is the culmination of months of hard-work and collaborative effort of many people, Government agencies and development partners particularly those who have provided direct financial and technical assistance towards this important exercise. The socio-economic profiles contain specific data and information about individual islands that are not only interesting to read, but more importantly, useful for education, planning and decision making. The profile is meant to be used as a reference material for leaders both at the island and national level, to enable them to make informed decisions that are founded on accurate and easily accessible statistics. With our limited natural and financial resources it is very important that our leaders are in a position to make wise decisions regarding the use of these limited resources, so that they are targeted at the most urgent needs and produce maximum impact. In addition, this profile will act as reference material that could be used for educational purposes, at the secondary and tertiary levels.
  • Kiribati Fourth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity

    Kiribati Fourth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity

    KIRIBATI FOURTH NATIONAL REPORT TO THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY Aranuka Island (Gilbert Group) Picture by: Raitiata Cati Prepared by: Environment and Conservation Division - MELAD 20 th September 2010 1 Contents Acknowledgement ........................................................................................................................................... 4 Acronyms ......................................................................................................................................................... 5 Executive Summary .......................................................................................................................................... 6 Chapter 1: OVERVIEW OF BIODIVERSITY, STATUS, TRENDS AND THREATS .................................................... 8 1.1 Geography and geological setting of Kiribati ......................................................................................... 8 1.2 Climate ................................................................................................................................................... 9 1.3 Status of Biodiversity ........................................................................................................................... 10 1.3.1 Soil ................................................................................................................................................. 12 1.3.2 Water Resources ..........................................................................................................................
  • Participatory Diagnosis of Coastal Fisheries for North Tarawa And

    Participatory Diagnosis of Coastal Fisheries for North Tarawa And

    Photo credit: Front cover, Aurélie Delisle/ANCORS Aurélie cover, Front credit: Photo Participatory diagnosis of coastal fisheries for North Tarawa and Butaritari island communities in the Republic of Kiribati Participatory diagnosis of coastal fisheries for North Tarawa and Butaritari island communities in the Republic of Kiribati Authors Aurélie Delisle, Ben Namakin, Tarateiti Uriam, Brooke Campbell and Quentin Hanich Citation This publication should be cited as: Delisle A, Namakin B, Uriam T, Campbell B and Hanich Q. 2016. Participatory diagnosis of coastal fisheries for North Tarawa and Butaritari island communities in the Republic of Kiribati. Penang, Malaysia: WorldFish. Program Report: 2016-24. Acknowledgments We would like to thank the financial contribution of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research through project FIS/2012/074. We would also like to thank the staff from the Secretariat of the Pacific Community and WorldFish for their support. A special thank you goes out to staff of the Kiribati’s Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources Development, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Environment, Land and Agricultural Development and to members of the five pilot Community-Based Fisheries Management (CBFM) communities in Kiribati. 2 Contents Executive summary 4 Introduction 5 Methods 9 Diagnosis 12 Summary and entry points for CBFM 36 Notes 38 References 39 Appendices 42 3 Executive summary In support of the Kiribati National Fisheries Policy 2013–2025, the ACIAR project FIS/2012/074 Improving Community-Based
  • The Partition of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands W

    The Partition of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands W

    Island Studies Journal , Vol. 7, No.1, 2012, pp. 135-146 REVIEW ESSAY The Partition of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands W. David McIntyre Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies Christchurch, New Zealand [email protected] ABSTRACT : This paper reviews the separation of the Ellice Islands from the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony, in the central Pacific, in 1975: one of the few agreed boundary changes that were made during decolonization. Under the name Tuvalu, the Ellice Group became the world’s fourth smallest state and gained independence in 1978. The Gilbert Islands, (including the Phoenix and Line Islands), became the Republic of Kiribati in 1979. A survey of the tortuous creation of the colony is followed by an analysis of the geographic, ethnic, language, religious, economic, and administrative differences between the groups. When, belatedly, the British began creating representative institutions, the largely Polynesian, Protestant, Ellice people realized they were doomed to permanent minority status while combined with the Micronesian, half-Catholic, Gilbertese. To protect their identity they demanded separation, and the British accepted this after a UN-observed referendum. Keywords: Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Gilbert and Ellis islands; independence; Kiribati; Tuvalu © 2012 Institute of Island Studies, University of Prince Edward Island, Canada Context The age of imperialism saw most of the world divided up by colonial powers that drew arbitrary lines on maps to designate their properties. The age of decolonization involved the assumption of sovereign independence by these, often artificial, creations. Tuvalu, in the central Pacific, lying roughly half-way between Australia and Hawaii, is a rare exception.
  • Summary of the Facts and Evidence Relating to the Massacre of British

    Summary of the Facts and Evidence Relating to the Massacre of British

    , Name of' Accused: ~atzu Shosa, Camnander of' Japanese Forces, Tarawa, and othel' Japanese soldiers under his cOmmand T(hose identl t.y is unknoT4l. On 15th October, 1942, the f'ollowing Br1tish Nationals were beheaded, or in some instances, otherwise murdered by the Japanese at Betio, Tarawa. Lieutenant Reginald G. Morgan, Wireless Operator in the service of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony at Tarawa. Basil Cleary, Dispenser in the se~vice of' the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony at Tarawa. Isaac R. Handley, Retired Master Mariner, resident of' Tarawa. A. M. McArthur, Retired Trader of' Nonouti, Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony. Revd. A. L. Sadd, Missionary, resident of' Beru, Gilbert and Ellice. Islands Colony• The following wireless operators in the employ of' the New }:eale.nd. Government and stationed in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony. station A. C. Heenan Ma1ana Island. J. J. McCarthy Abemama II H. R. C. Hearn Kuria A. E. McKenna Honout1 II" C. A. Pearsall Tamena II The f'ollo~~ng members o-r the 2nd New Zealand Expe d1 t 1 Oll8.ry Force: Station. 64653 Pte. L. B. Speedy Mal ana 64606 u C. J. Owen Maiana 64056 D. H. Hov.'S Abemama 63882 " R. J. Hitchen Abemama 6LJ485 "II R. Jones Kuria 64382 1/ R. A. Ellis Kurla 64057 II c. A. Kllpin Nonout1 64062 1/ J. H. Nichol Nonouti 64005 " w. A. R. Parker' Tanana 64022 " R. M. McKenzie Tamana. Particulars of' the A11~ed Crime. The alleged vict 8 were stationed at or resident in various islands of' the Gilbert and Ellice Group.
  • Kiribati 2005 Census Data And, Where Possible, It Presents Comparisons with the 2000 and Earlier Census Data

    Kiribati 2005 Census Data And, Where Possible, It Presents Comparisons with the 2000 and Earlier Census Data

    Kiribati 2005 Census Volume 2: Analytical Report January 2007 CONTENTS page Foreword vii Acknowledgement viii Summary of main indicators ix Executive summary xi 1 INTRODUCTION 1 2 POPULATION TREND, COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE 2 2.1 Population trend 2 2.2 Population composition 5 2.3 Population structure 6 3 DEMOGRAPHIC COMPONENTS 12 3.1 Fertility 12 3.2 Mortality 19 3.3 Migration 26 3.3.1 Internal migration 26 3.3.2 International migration 30 4 SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS 33 4.1 Marital status 33 4.2 Religion 36 4.3 Health 37 4.3.1 Smoking tobacco 37 4.3.2 Drinking alcohol 38 4.4 Educational characteristics 40 4.4.1 School enrolment 40 4.4.2 Educational attainment 40 4.4.3 Educational qualification 42 4.5 Labor market activity 43 4.5.1 Introduction 43 4.5.2 Employed - cash workers and village workers 44 4.5.3 Labour force participation rate and Employment-population ratio 4.5.4 Employed cash workers by work status 4.5.5 Employed cash workers by industry group 46 4.5.6 Employed cash workers by occupational group 46 4.5.7 Unemployed 47 4.5.8 Not in the labor force 48 5 HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS 50 5.1 Household size 50 5.2 Household composition 53 5.3 Household amenities and appliances 54 5.3.1 Private households by main source of drinking water, Kiribati, 2005 54 5.3.2 Private households by type of toilet facility used, Kiribati, 2005 54 5.3.3 Private households by source of lighting, Kiribati, 2005 54 5.3.4 Private households and availability of capital goods, Kiribati, 2005 58 i CONTENTS (continue) page 6 POPULATION PROJECTIONS 59 6.1 Projection
  • Kiribati Titles from the Pacific Manuscripts Bureau Collection

    Kiribati Titles from the Pacific Manuscripts Bureau Collection

    Kiribati titles from the Pacific Manuscripts Bureau collection Compiled April 2015 Short titles and some notes only. See PMB on-line database catalogue at http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/pambu/catalogue/ for information sheets and detailed reel lists. PMB Manuscript series of Microfilms AU PMB MS 09 Title: Tapu: a tale of adventure in the South Seas (a novel) Date(s): After 1894 (Creation) Moors, Harry J. Extent and medium: 1 reel; 35mm microfilm Description: Harry J. Moors (1854-1926) was born in Detroit and died in Apia, Western Samoa. As an agent for the Hawaiian Board of Immigration, he made several voyages to the Gilbert Islands and Marshall Islands around 1880 to recruit labourers for Hawaii's sugar plantations. In 1883, he settled in Apia, Western Samoa, and became a successful trader and planter. Moors was closely associated with Robert Louis Stevenson during the novelist's five years (1889-1894) in Samoa and in 1910 he published a book of reminiscences entitled With Stevenson in Samoa. Moors stated in that book that Stevenson had once urged him to write down some of the 'wonderful stories' he had related to Stevenson about his early career. Moors acted on this encouragement, and after Stevenson died, he wrote two novels, of which Tapu: A Tale of Adventure in the South Seas is one. Neither of the novels was published. See also the Bureau's newsletter <1>Pambu, September 1968:4. The novel is based on Moors' experiences in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands as a labour recruiter for the Hawaiian Board of Immigration.
  • Condition Red Marine Defense Battalions in World War II PCN 19000313300

    Condition Red Marine Defense Battalions in World War II PCN 19000313300

    Condition Red: Marine Defense Battalions in World War II by Major Charles D. Me/son apan, its military lead-truction of three aircraft during the plans —Orangestood for Japan in a ersconfidenttheymorning's fighting. seriesof color-coded planning could stagger the Unit- As the Japanese aircraft carriersdocuments —providedthe strategy ed States and gain timewithdrew after the raid on Pearl Har-for the amphibious offensive re- to seize the oil andbor, a pair of enemy destroyers be-quired to defeat Japan and the defen- and other natural resources neces-gan shelling Midway Island shortlysive measures to protect the bases sary to dominate the western Pacif-before midnight on 7 December toupon which the American campaign ic,attacked Pearl Harbor on 7neutralize the aircraft based there. Awould depend. December 1941, sinking or badlysalvo directed against Midway's Sand As a militaristic Japan made in- damaging 18 ships, destroying someIsland struck the power plant, whichroads into China in the 1930s, con- 200 aircraft, and killing more thanserved as the command post of thecern heightened for the security of 2,300 American servicemen. Though6th Defense Battalion, grievouslyWake, Midway, Johnston,and caught by surprise, Marines of thewounding First Lieutenant George H. Palmyra Islands, the outposts pro- 1st, 3d, and 4th Defense BattalionsCannon. He remained at his post un- tecting Hawaii, a vital staging area standing guard in Hawaii foughttil the other Marines wounded by thefor a war in the Pacific. (Although back as best they could. Few heavysame shell could be cared for and his actually atolls —tinyislands clustered weapons were yet in place, and am-communications specialist, Corporal on areef-fringed lagoon —Wake, munition remained stored on ship-Harold Hazelwood, had put the bat-Midway, Johnston, and Palmyra have board, along with many of the guns.
  • Economic and Financial Analysis

    Economic and Financial Analysis

    Outer Islands Transport Infrastructure Investment Project (RRP KIR 53043) ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL ANALYSIS A. General 1. The proposed project will finance several activities to improve the safety of interisland navigation and provide resilient outer island access infrastructure for four outer islands in Kiribati. The project scope includes a hydrographic survey to establish digital chart coverage of the outer islands to make navigation safer in the country’s waters in accordance with international conventions and small-scale maritime interventions, which are needed to improve the delivery of basic goods and services to the outer islands. The project will finance rehabilitation of causeways in these islands to reduce transport costs within the islands and improve resilience to climate change and disaster risks. 2. The four islands considered for the project investment are Abaiang, Nonouti, Beru, and Tabiteuea South. Kiribati’s 33 islands are scattered over a large area of central and western Pacific Ocean and constrained by geographic isolation, a small population, and high transport and shipping costs. The nation depends on maritime transport to import essential manufactured goods, export agriculture and fishery products, and connect and resupply outer island communities. Only two ports are capable of handling international shipping—one in Betio and the other in Kiritimati and the outer islands, which are served by domestic (interisland) shipping. Safe navigation aids are limited and defined island access infrastructure nonexistent. The proposed project will tackle these constraints and ease safer access to the outer islands. 3. Standard demand analysis to calculate the project benefits is not applicable for some project components. Therefore, cost-effectiveness analysis or cost–benefit analysis was used for individual subprojects, depending on whether the benefits of the subproject were quantifiable or not.1 For example, the installation of aid to navigation (ATON) is essential but does not lead to direct economic benefit or reduced operating costs.
  • ^ Distrust with Which the Inhabitants of the Other Islands 7"* Viewed Him

    ^ Distrust with Which the Inhabitants of the Other Islands 7"* Viewed Him

    THE WOULi>-BE El-IPIRE BUILDER-. Tem Binoka, ruler of the State of Ahemama, comprising the isla-nds of Ahemama, Kuria, and Aranuka in the central Gilbert Islands, might well he identified in Pacific history as either a caring, benevolent despot, or a scheming, rutliless tyrant. But perhaps he may best be remembered for his attempts to found a Gilbertese empire. This was the principal ambition of his life, , which must have no doubt been vjhetted by the earlier achievements -•<7 '• oi* liis forbears, Kaitu and Uakeia, in subjugating all the southern islands, as well as those of the north save for Butaritj^ri and Little Makin, whose Uea (high chief) sought peace, or by the achievements of Kamehameha ir Hawaii or Poraare in Tahiti. And yet, despite all the advantages he enjoyed - a powerful and secure political and economic base in the centre of the archipelago, his assets of armaments and ships, the almost certain failure of the ragamuffin republics elsevjhere in the Gilberts to oppose him successfully, and the d.ebauched g^nd decadent royal State of Butaritari and Little Makin vjhich would probably have fallen into his la.p like overripe fruit if he had assailed it - he failed to achieve his overriding ambition. : It may well be v/ondered why this was so in view of all ! , ,i-7 the advantages he enjoyed. The answer must surely lie in the i manner of his rule in the State of Ahemama, and the consequent ^ distrust with which the inhabitants of the other islands 7"* viewed him. It is a curious fact that his advantages, no less then his mistakes, contributed to his failure to achieve his r • • overriding ambition.