Abaiang

Understand

A good glimpse of one of it very beautiful and white sandy beaches can also be seen when looking at the island’s direction from the north end tip of South Tarawa. It is in Abaiang that you can see historical landmarks made by the white colonizers of the island, a Negro cannibal who landed on Abaiang in the early days and founders of Protestant Church in Kiribati. Abaiang is also known to all as a house of the first church in Kiribati and also has a distinction of being one of the cradles of Christianity and schools both of Protestants and Catholics in the Kiribati group. Other visible attractions include shrines, well of high chief of Abaiang in the early days and sites of pioneers of the island. With a wide range of historical and cultural cultural attractions seen, the only home for two famous resorts in Kiribati and its closeness to the capital, Abaiang is considered one of the marvellous and convenient laid-back hideaways in Kiribati.

Geography Abaiang Island has a total land area of 16 square kilometres and an estimated distance of about 23 miles from North to South. The main government centre is located at Taburao village. The island also serves as a home for two secondary schools, each of them owned either by Roman Catholic Church or Kiribati Protestant Church. The island has a population of 5,568 (2015 census).

History The history of Abaiang Island started with the belief that ancestors living on it were known to be spirits, some of them created in Samoa and some in Abaiang. Years passed by and then real people came along followed then by the arrival of Reverend Dr. Bingham and his team, international traders, beachcombers, whalers and even labour traders. Colonizers then came along too and hoisted Union Jack on the island. The first church in Kiribati also established on Abaiang Island in 1859 by Reverend Dr Hiram Bingham and his team. Reverend Dr. Bingham, his wife and his team were sent from America in 1856 to set up a mission in Kiribati. Their arr

Getting there

1 Abaiang Atoll Airport (ABF IATA). Air Kiribati from Marakei and Tarawa (updated Nov 2019)

Do

Te Karaaun Island trips – either by Motor bikes or trucks Island walking Beach games Snorkelling Visits to cultural and historical sites Picnics at recommended spots (needs to be arranged) Boats trips to nearby islets (to be arranged)

Sleep

Terau Beach Bungalow - while it may be on the lagoon side of Tebero, take heart, it still has lots of stately palms and a beach. +686 73005959