Location
Lat 7° 1' 60S Long 155° 46' 60E  Awa Island is located to the west of Fauro. Part of an island chain including (from north to south) Asi Island, Ghohuru Island, Benana Island, Samanago Island with Samanago village, Nuanaha Island, Awa Island and Munia Island.

Wartime History
During the Pacific War, the local people fled to nearby Shortland Island. One woman refused to leave, and was killed.

Allan Dickes recalls in 1980:
"I was walking on the weather coast of Awa one day in 1980 when I found, mostly buried in the sand, a fairly large fragment of a sea mine casing. it was less rusted than I would have expected but unmistakable as part of a sea mine because of the detonator 'nipple'. I took it to Ghohuru but cant remember what happened to it. Incidentally, I think the usual way of disposing of a "live" mine (and who can tell?) is to call on a sharpshooter with a rifle, operating from a 'safe' distance! The customary Alu method with bombs etc. is to light a fire under 'em and run clear, rapidly."

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Last Updated
March 20, 2022