What is the capital of the Solomon Islands?

The capital of the Solomon Islands is Honiara. It is located on the northwestern coast of Guadalcanal and contains the national government, major institutions, the main seaport at Point Cruz, and Honiara International Airport.

Honiara’s modern growth is strongly connected to the Second World War. The area around the present airport was the site of the Battle for Henderson Field during the 1942 Guadalcanal Campaign, when United States and Japanese forces fought for control of the strategically important airfield. After the war, Honiara replaced Tulagi as the administrative centre of the British Solomon Islands Protectorate in 1952.

In 1983, the surrounding 22-square-kilometre area was designated a separate capital territory with a status similar to a province. Honiara remains both the national capital and the largest city in the country.

Munda, Auki, and Gizo are genuine Solomon Islands settlements, but none is the national capital. Munda is on New Georgia, Auki is on Malaita, and Gizo is in the Western Province.