History of Honiara

Rhys Richards, a New Zealand historian and former New Zealand High Commissioner of the Solomon Islands spent many years in Honiara. In 1979 Honiara was still a relatively small town in terms of population, especially for a capital city, with 18,346 people, of which 10,870 were men, and 7,476 were women. In July 1978, Honiara became the new capital of the independent Solomon Islands.)

The International Express Mail Agreement and regulations were signed between the United States and Solomon Islands governments in Honiara and Washington, D.C. on April 19 and June 27, 1991, which came into effect on August 1, 1991. On November 6, 1998, a peace agreement was signed in Honiara between the United States and Solomon Islands governments. However, since the late 1990s, Honiara has been the center of ethnic violence and political unrest in the country. Tension has resulted in numerous outbursts of violence and crime in and around the capital of Honiara. A coup attempt occurred in June 2000 which resulted in violent rebellions and fighting between the ethnic Malaitans of the Malaita Eagle Force (MEF) and the Guadalcanal natives of the Istabu Freedom Movement (IFM). Violence was prevalent in the streets of Honiara, and although a peace