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| Location Guadalcanal is located in Guadalcanal Province in the southeastern Solomon Islands. Guadalcanal has an area of 2,047 square miles. Also known as "Guadalcanal Island" or simply "Guadalcanal" or "Isatabu" in the local language. The island's highest elevation is Mount Popomanaseu with a peak at 7,661'. During the Pacific War, the Japanese sometimes referred to Guadalcanal as "Moth Island" due to the island's shape. Prewar and during the Pacific War part of the British Solomon Islands Protectorate (BSIP). Today part of Guadalcanal Province in the Solomon Islands. To the north, Guadalcanal Province borders Iron Bottom Sound including Lengo Channel, Sealark Channel and Ngello Channel and Central Province including Savo Island, Florida Island Group and Tulagi. To the northeast is the Indispensable Strait and Malaita Province. To the south is the Solomon Sea and southeast is Makira-Ulawa Province including San Cristobal (Makira). Prewar In 1568, Spanish explorer Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira discovered the island and named it Guadalcanal after a crew member Pedro de Ortega Valencia's hometown of Guadalcanal in the province of Seville, Spain. During the 1800-1900s, European settlers and missionaries arrived on Guadalcanal and in 1893, the United Kingdom declared Guadalcanal part of the British Solomon Islands Protectorate (BSIP). Wartime History On July 5, 1942 Japanese Army forces landed at Renadi and began developing Lunga Point Airfield (Henderson Field) as a forward airfield to menace the shipping lanes to Australia and New Zealand. U.S. Navy (USN) code name "Bevy". On August 7, 1942, U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) 1st Marine Division made an amphibious landing at Red Beach, prior to the airfield becoming operational. Guadalcanal then became a pivotal piece of island real estate that both sides wanted to control, and were willing to commit larger forces of soldiers and materials over the months following the Marine landing. US Army reinforcements landed, while the Japanese attempted to supply their forces by night via the "Tokyo Express" down the Slot of the Solomon islands. Guadalcanal and Henderson Field became the focal points of the six month Guadalcanal campaign. The Japanese lost approximately 30,000 and the Americans 1,700 dead and 5,000 wounded. The Allied victory on Guadalcanal became a turning point of the Pacific War. After the Battle of Guadalcanal, the island was developed into a major staging base and training ground for Allied operations elsewhere in the Solomon Islands. Even after Guadalcanal was secured, pockets of sporadic Japanese resistance remained. The island became a rear base and staging area. The last Japanese holdout surrendered on October 27, 1947. Munitions and occasional war wrecks are still discovered to this day. Today Guadalcanal contains the most historical sites, battlefields and relics of any island in the Pacific. Today, Honiara is both the provincial capital of Guadalcanal Province and the national capital of the Solomon Islands. Today, Honiara is part of the capital territory. Honiara (American Perimeter Area) Honiara provincial capital of Guadalcanal Province and national capital of Solomon Islands. Renadi located on the north coast, site of the initial Japanese landing on July 5, 1942. Red Beach site of the initial USMC landing on August 7, 1942. Lunga Point located at the Lunga River near Henderson Field. Lunga Anchorage (Lunga Point Anchorage, Lunga Roads) located at Lunga on the north coast of Guadalcanal. American Cemetery on Guadalcanal former cemetery located near Lunga Point. Hell's Point located on the north coast of Guadalcanal between Tenaru (Ilu) and Lunga Point. Point Cruz located at the center of Honiara. Kukum located on the north coast of Guadalcanal. Matanikau (Mataniko) village located on the north coast of Guadalcanal. Betikama located near Henderson Field, SDA School with war relics on display. Barana (Mbarana) inland village established during the 1960s at The Gifu battlefield area. Guadalcanal Airfields Henderson Field (Lunga Point, Bomber 1, Honiara Airport) located near the north coast of Guadalcanal. Fighter 1 (Lunga) located near the north coast of Guadalcanal, disused since the war. Fighter 2 (Kukum) located near the north coast of Guadalcanal, disused today. Fighter 3 (Emergency Field) located near the Tenaru River, disused since the war. Crash Strip (The Grassy Strip) located near Coffin Corner near the north coast of Guadalcanal. Carney Field (Bomber 2) located near the north coast of Guadalcanal near Koli Point and the Metapona River. Crash Strip (Koli Point) located near the north coast of Guadalcanal between Carney Field and Koli Field. Koli Field (Bomber 3) located near the north coast of Guadalcanal near the Metapona River. Guadalcanal Battlefields Bloody Ridge (Edson's Ridge, Raider Ridge) Japanese attack repulsed to the south of Henderson Field. Coffin Corner located southwest of Bloody Ridge and Crash Strip. The Gifu Japanese defensive position between Hill 31 and Hill 27 neutralized December to January 1943. Tenaru (Ilu) Japanese attack repulsed at the eastern end of Henderson Field. Seahorse battlefield area January 8-11, 1943 includes Hill 43 and Hill 44. Galloping Horse battlefield area January 10-13, 1943 Exton Ridge, Sims Ridge depicted in "Thin Red Line". Eastern Guadalcanal Tetere located on the north coast of Guadalcanal, LVT Amtrac dump area. Taivu located on the north coast of Guadalcanal, Japanese Army Regiment "Ichiki Regiment" landing. Tasimboko located on the north coast of Guadalcanal to the west of Taivu. Ruavatu located on the north coast of Guadalcanal, prewar Catholic mission, execution of four missionaries. Asamana located fifteen miles inland from the north coast of Guadalcanal, Carlson's "Long Patrol" Nov 1942. Koli Point located on the north coast of Guadalcanal, Carney Field, Crash Strip (Koli Point) and Koli Field. Aola (Aula, Tenaghau) located on the north coast of Guadalcanal borders Aola Bay. Aola Bay borders Aola on the north coast of Guadalcanal. Western Guadalcanal Wright Road built to support the U.S. Army advance inland to The Gifu. Kokumbona located on the north coast of Guadalcanal, floating crane, plaque at Tanganai Church. Lela located on the north coast of Guadalcanal near the Lela River. Poha located on the north coast of Guadalcanal and Poha River. Tassafaronga Point (Tasivaronga, Areveu) located on the north coast of Guadalcanal. Battle of Tassafaronga. Bonegi (Mbonege) located on the north coast of Guadalcanal, November 15, 1942 two transports beach. Domo (Domma, Ndomo) located on the north coast of Guadalcanal. Domo Cove (Domma Cove, Ndomo Cove) borders Domo (Ndomo) on the north coast of Guadalcanal. Vilu located on the north coast of Guadalcanal, Vilu War Museum. Cape Esperance area of Guadalcanal Cape Esperance located at the northwest tip of Guadalcanal, Japanese reinforcement and evacuation. Battle of Cape Esperance October 11-12, 1942 Second Battle of Savo / Sea Battle of Savo Island. Visale located on the northwest tip of Guadalcanal bordering Visale Bay, prewar Visale Catholic Mission. Nugu Point (Cape Nagle) located on the northwest of Guadalcanal near Verahue. Takolenduna located on the northwest tip of Guadalcanal includes Nugu Point bordering Visale Bay and Visale. Veuru located at the northwest tip of Guadalcanal, Yamazuki Maru beached November 15, 1942. Maravovo (Marovovo) located to the west of Cape Esperance. Chapuru (Tsapuru, Sapuru) located near Cape Esperance. Kamimbo Bay (Tambea) located on the northwest coast of Guadalcanal west of Cape Esperance. Tenaro located on the north coast near Cape Esperance. Verahue (Varhui, Verahui, Verabue) located on the northwest of Guadalcanal southwest of Cape Esperance. Aruliho (Aruligo, Argulio) located on Cape Esperance. Southern Guadalcanal Beaufort Bay located at the center of the western coast of Guadalcanal. Longu located on the southwest "Weather Coast" of Guadalcanal. Guadalcanal Rivers Tenaru River (Alligator Creek) mouth at Tenaru on the north coast of Guadalcanal. Block Four River located to the east of Tenaru on the north coast of Guadalcanal. Ilu River mouth at Tenaru on the north coast of Guadalcanal. Lunga River is located on Guadalcanal and meanders roughly south to north. Matanikau River (Mataniko River) mouth to the east of Matanikau (Mataniko) on the north coast of Guadalcanal. White River mouth on the north coast of Guadalcanal. Bonegi River (Mbonege River) mouth on the north coast of Guadalcanal. Umasani River mouth on the north coast of Guadalcanal. Numbered Hills, Mountains and terrain features on Guadalcanal Hill 1 (Hill 80) feature on the southern end of Bloody Ridge on Guadalcanal renumbered Hill 80 by U.S. Army. Hill 2 (Hill 123) feature on the northern end of Bloody Ridge on Guadalcanal renumbered Hill 123 by U.S. Army. Hill 11 east of The Gifu north of Mount Austen. Hill 20 northeast of The Gifu north of Mount Austen. Hill 21 northeast of The Gifu north of Mount Austen. Hill 27 part of The Gifu near the northern coast of Guadalcanal. Hill 31 part of The Gifu near the northern coast of Guadalcanal. Hill 35 northeast of The Gifu north of Mount Austen includes Japanese memorial. Hill 42 located near The Gifu near the northern coast of Guadalcanal. Hill 43 part of Sea Horse battlefield during January 8-11, 1943. Hill 44 part of Sea Horse battlefield during January 8-11, 1943. Hill 50 part of Galloping Horse battlefield during January 10-13, 1943. Hill 51 part of Galloping Horse battlefield during January 10-13, 1943. Hill 52 part of Galloping Horse battlefield during January 10-13, 1943. Hill 53 (Knoll) part of Galloping Horse battlefield during January 10-13, 1943. Hill 54 part of Galloping Horse battlefield during January 10-13, 1943. Hill 55 part of Galloping Horse battlefield during January 10-13, 1943. Hill 56 part of Galloping Horse battlefield during January 10-13, 1943. Hill 57 part of Galloping Horse battlefield during January 10-13, 1943. Hill 66 (Snake) part of Galloping Horse battlefield during January 10-13, 1943. Hill 73 (Guadalcanal Memorial / U.S. Memorial) feature near the Matanikau River, U.S. Memorial built 1992. Hill 78 feature today with Solomon Islands Parliament. Hill 80 (Hill 1) feature on the southern end of Bloody Ridge on Guadalcanal renumbered Hill 80 by U.S. Army. Hill 84 located inland from Point Cruz, today the King Solomon Hotel is at this location. Hill 123 (Hill 2) feature on the northern end of Bloody Ridge on Guadalcanal renumbered Hill 123 by U.S. Army. Mount Austen (Mt. Austen, Grassy Knoll) feature overlooking the north coast of Guadalcanal. Gold Ridge located fifteen miles inland from the north coast of Guadalcanal. References Glossary of U.S. Naval Code Words BEVY Guadalcanal Island, Solomon Islands Contribute
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 Map Aug 7, 1942 Map 1942 Map Fallingrain |
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