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Utupua is an island in theSanta Cruz Islands, located 66 km to the Southeast of the main Santa Cruz group, betweenVanikoro and Santa Cruz proper (Nendö). This island belongs administratively to theTemotu Province ofSolomon Islands.
Utupua is a high u-shaped island surrounded by a coral reef. Its land surface is 69.0 square kilometres (26.6 square miles) and its highest point 380 metres (1,247 feet).
Utupua has a population of 848 inhabitants (1999 census) scattered in small villages. The main villages on the island are Avita, Malombo, Tanimbili, Apakho, and Nembao.
Utupua has a forested path that leads to viewpoints overlooking the coral reef that encloses the island.[1]
First sighting by Europeans was in September 1595 by the second Spanish expedition ofÁlvaro de Mendaña. More precisely it was sighted byLorenzo Barreto while in command of one of the smaller vessels on a local voyage round the then called Santa Cruz, which is today'sNendö island.[2][3]
According to some observers,[4] the society of Utupua functions withoutcash: islanders share their property instead of using abarter ormoney system.
In fact, Utupua islanders used to have a system of traditional money, in the form offeather money made with feathers ofMyzomela cardinalis birds.[5] That ceremonial money was mostly used for payment of thebride price.[6] Since the 1980s, it has been replaced by cash.[6]
ThreeOceanic languages arespoken on Utupua:[7]
Each language is associated with a distinct community, on different points of the island.
| Central | |
|---|---|
| Choiseul | |
| Guadalcanal | |
| Isabel | |
| Makira-Ulawa | |
| Malaita | |
| Rennell and Bellona | |
| Temotu | |
| Western | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
11°20′S166°30′E / 11.333°S 166.500°E /-11.333; 166.500
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