Makira Island

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Wild, Traditional, Intimate

Makira Island, also known as San Cristóbal, is the beating heart of the Makira-Ulawa Province — a place where time seems to slow and traditions run deep. With its dense rainforests, winding rivers, and unspoiled beaches, Makira is the kind of destination that invites inward reflection and outward connection. For event organisers looking to create something intimate, rooted, and community-focused, Makira delivers a setting unlike any other.

Events here don’t compete with the noise of cities — they flow with the rhythm of the land and people. Weddings, youth summits, spiritual retreats, or traditional music gatherings can all find their place here, often shaped by kastom values and guided by local leaders.

There are no formal resorts, but guesthouses, church resthouses, and village stays provide a base for small groups. The main town, Kirakira, acts as the gateway, with a small airport and basic services. Most events take place in open-air spaces — under trees, along the beach, or within community-built halls that double as performance and gathering spaces.

The island is known for its indigenous languages, its bamboo panpipe music, and for its ancestral gardens, where food and cultural stories are deeply intertwined. These are elements that can be meaningfully woven into events — a welcome ceremony with music, a shared meal prepared using local methods, or a storytelling circle beneath a banyan tree.

Access to Makira is by light aircraft from Honiara, usually landing at Kirakira Airstrip, followed by local transport to village areas. Roads are rough and limited, so much of the island is reached by footpaths or dugout canoe. Power is typically solar, and while mobile coverage exists in Kirakira, it’s patchy elsewhere — encouraging guests to unplug and be fully present.

Recommended event types include nature-based spiritual retreats, intergenerational cultural camps, women’s gatherings, and environmental education trips. For organisers who value simplicity and meaning, Makira offers a place where depth is more important than polish.

Collaborating with village councils, elders, and church networks is essential for planning. These relationships ensure that events are welcomed and that they contribute to ongoing community aspirations — whether that’s funding school infrastructure, preserving local dance traditions, or supporting reforestation efforts along the island’s fragile coastline.

Makira Island is not for every event — it’s for those who seek something grounded and intentional. The atmosphere is one of quiet strength and gentle beauty, where the land itself feels like a co-host. Come with humility, and you’ll leave with stories, friendships, and memories that last long beyond the event itself.