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43-521: The South Pacific WWII Museum project was initiated in 2012 after the Town Clerk of Luganville , Peter Sakita and local business identity Bradley Wood met to discuss a way to put Luganville on the map. Bradley proposed the idea of building a museum, specifically a World War II educational museum, to commemorate the island's contributions during the Pacific War of World War II. With the support of

86-575: A WWII landing craft known as a Higgins Boat . The main structure of the museum will house staff offices, a meeting room, a small theatrette, and restrooms. A mezzanine floor will provide an elevated view of the main gallery. The museum's glass southern end will offer a view of Unity Park, the mouth of the Sarakata River, and the Segond Channel. The South Pacific WWII Museum aims to engage the local Ni-Vanuatu community, and also serve as

129-467: A base commander insisted that four tanks should be able to drive along the road simultaneously. At one end of Higinson is the port, one of two main ports for the island. During World War II , the American military erected two bases on two islands of what is now Vanuatu (a British-French colony known then as New Hebrides ), one of which being Espiritu Santo. A village of small, spaced-out communities

172-719: A commemorative space to honour those who supported the war effort in the South Pacific. 15°30′56″S 167°10′23″E  /  15.51555°S 167.17317°E  / -15.51555; 167.17317 Luganville Luganville is the second largest city in Vanuatu after the capital Port Vila ; it is located on the island of Espiritu Santo and has a population of 18,062 as of the 2020 census. Those on Vanuatu's northern islands who regard Luganville as their big city, particularly indigenous populations, call it Santo ; rural residents of Espiritu Santo call it Kanal (from

215-541: A continent. The wind and current were against this aim, so he left the island sailing west, eventually encountering the previously unexplored southern coast of New Guinea . Torres then discovered the strait that bears his name between northern Australia and southern New Guinea. After the departure of Queirós and Torres, the Espiritu Santo was not visited again by Europeans until 160 years later, by Louis de Bougainville in 1768 and James Cook in 1774. During

258-603: A more modern sort are found among followers of the Nagriamel movement based in Fanafo . For almost all of Espiritu Santo's people, custom plays a large part in their lives, regardless of their religion. The chief system continues strongly in most areas. The people of Santo face some health problems, especially malaria and tuberculosis . Although there is a hospital, most local people consult either their own witch doctor or medical clinics set up by western missionaries. Kava

301-577: A population of around 40,000 according to the 2009 census. The island belongs to the archipelago of the New Hebrides in the Pacific region of Melanesia . It is in the Sanma Province of Vanuatu. The town of Luganville , on Espiritu Santo's southeast coast, is Vanuatu's second-largest settlement and the provincial capital. Roads run north and west from Luganville, but most of the island

344-515: A staged approach for the museum's development. While the original design was based on the Quonset hut, a characteristic structure of the World War II era, the museum's first stage will consist of a main display gallery inside a Quonset hut-inspired building. This initial stage will showcase life on Santo during WWII and feature a smaller open-sided Quonset hut housing a significant museum piece,

387-467: Is about five km east of the center of Luganville . Numerous rivers run to the coastline from the mountains of the island. The Sarakata River is the largest one, and it runs through Luganville . Many people on Espiritu Santo still rely on subsistence farming for their food. The villages on the island are mostly self-sufficient with their own vegetable gardens, chickens, and pigs. Taros and yams are commonly grown in these gardens, and these are mainstays of

430-547: Is far from the limited road network. Around Espiritu Santo lie a number of small islands and islets; among them are: Dany Island , Araki , Elephant Island , Sakao , Lataroa , Lataro , Thion , Malohu, Malwepe , Malvapevu , Malparavu , Maltinerava , Oyster Island, Tangoa , and Bokissa . Vanuatu's highest peak is the 1,879 metre (6,165 foot) Mount Tabwemasana in west-central Espiritu Santo. A Spanish expedition of three ships, led by Portuguese explorer Pedro Fernandes de Queirós , landed in 1606 at Big Bay on

473-653: Is home to all of Vanuatu's endemic birds , including the Santo mountain starling , a species restricted entirely to Espiritu Santo. Two protected areas have been established to safeguard the island's biodiversity; the Loru Conservation Area on the east coast and the Vatthe Conservation area near Big Bay in the north. The Loru Rainforest Protected Area is situated in the lowland rainforests of Espiritu Santo. Established in 1993 by Chief Caleb Ser,

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516-503: Is popular for its inexpensive food. Northern Provincial Hospital is one of two main referring hospitals on Espiritu Santo and serves people from other northern islands in Vanuatu as well as its own residents. Luganville is home to Vanuatu Health Training Institute, one of the two medical training schools on the island, but there are not enough graduates to prevent a shortage of medical professionals. Though medical expenses make up 50% of

559-420: Is roughly 2,920 millimetres or 110 inches annually. Luganville is twinned with: Espiritu Santo Espiritu Santo ( UK : / ɛ ˌ s p ɪ r ɪ t uː ˈ s æ n t oʊ / , US : /- ˈ s ɑː n t uː , - ˈ s ɑː n t oʊ / ; French: [ɛspiʁity sɑ̃to] ) is the largest island in the nation of Vanuatu , with an area of 3,955.5 km (1,527.2 sq mi) and

602-590: Is the popular drug of the island, although alcohol is becoming more prevalent. With the rising number of adults using alcohol, there is a rising crime rate, especially involving violence toward women, and tribal warfare. In September 1998, Espiritu Santo hosted the Melanesia Cup soccer tournament. Luganville is the only true town on the island; the rest of the island is dotted with small villages. From Luganville , three "main roads" emerge. Main Street leaves

645-746: The Roman Catholic Church , and the Church of Melanesia ( Anglican ). Also active are the Apostolic Church , the Church of Christ , the Seventh-day Adventist Church , and others. However, in many villages, particularly in Big Bay and South Santo, the people are " heathen ", a term that in Vanuatu has no pejorative connotation — it simply denotes someone who has not embraced Christianity. Customary beliefs of

688-470: The 1960s and it was then occupied by Ni-Vanuatu migrants. Luganville's economy suffered after Vanuatu declared independence in 1980. It has a strong tourist industry, namely in the areas of World War II artifacts and scuba diving ( SS President Coolidge is a popular site as are the coral reefs), and is a destination for many cruise lines. Its other main industries are agriculture, cattle, and offshore financial services. The market along Boulevard Higinson

731-540: The 20th century, Luganville was largely French-speaking and initially resisted the attempts to gain independence leading up to its declaration on July 30, 1980. French troops initially attempted to quash the flag-raising in Luganville, but returned to France in August instead. Some unrest arose between political parties vying for power, but has since been largely peaceful. As of the 2016 census, 98.7% of Luganville

774-674: The Ambassador of Japan to Vanuatu and other invited dignitaries. The exhibition features many items recovered from the sea floor around the sunken ship in 1970s, by diver Allan Power. He was inducted into the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame in 2011, in part, for the work he had done helping to preserve the Coolidge wreck. Power died in January 2019. The South Pacific WWII Museum plans to proceed with

817-488: The Association, signed a long term 'peppercorn lease' on the former US Navy PT Boat base site. A temporary mini-museum was opened in 2017. The smaller premises serves as a museum and headquarters for the project to build a bigger museum on the site of the old WWII PT Boat base. The museum features a wide range of exhibits that provide a comprehensive overview of the South Pacific's involvement in World War II, including

860-441: The Pacific War, including weapons, equipment, letters, photographs, and personal belongings of soldiers who served in the South Pacific. Many of the artefacts on display were found locally on Espiritu Santo, contributing greatly to the wartime storytelling history of the island. Others, such as the large US Navy bank vault door at the entrance to the museum and the remains of a P-38 Lightning aircraft, have been donated by locals on

903-562: The Phoenix Foundation and American libertarians hoping to establish a tax-free haven, declared the island of Espiritu Santo to be independent of the new government. The " Republic of Vemerana " was proclaimed on May 28. France recognized the independence on June 3. On June 5, the tribal chiefs of Santo named the French Ambassador Philippe Allonneau the "King of Vemerana", and Jimmy Stevens became

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946-574: The Prime Minister. Luganville was renamed Allonneaupolis. Next, negotiations with Port-Vila failed, and from July 27 to August 18, British Royal Marines and a unit of the French Garde Mobile were deployed to Vanuatu's capital island, but they did not enter Espiritu Santo as the soon-to-be government had hoped. The troops were recalled shortly before independence. Following independence on 31 July 1980, Vanuatu, now governed by

989-479: The Spanish explorers back to their ships, which led to an exchange of arrows and musket-fire, in which the chief was killed. The ships remained for a month at their anchorage " Puerto de la Vera Cruz ", with armed sailors making incursions inland for provisions. Queirós announced his intention to found a city, Nova Jerusalem, and appointed municipal officers. In early June, with provisions running low, they left

1032-623: The Vanuaku Party with Father Walter Lini as Prime Minister, requested assistance from Papua New Guinea , whose army suppressed the rebellion, keeping Espiritu Santo in Vanuatu. Over 30 different local languages are spoken on Espiritu Santo , a subgroup of the North Vanuatu languages . Espiritu Santo, with many wrecks and reefs to be explored, is a very popular tourist destination for divers. Champagne Beach draws tourists with its white sand and clear waters. The "Western Side" of

1075-464: The bay to explore the neighbouring coastline. Queirós' lead ship became separated, and, whether through adverse weather or mutiny, was unable to make anchor in the bay. The almirante (second-in-command, and captain of the second ship), Luis Váez de Torres , searched the coast for signs of shipwreck but found none. He remained until late June, then sailed to the west coast with the intention of circumnavigating what he considered to be an island, not

1118-627: The body of water separating the main island and Luganville from Aore Island , provides the town with an excellent sheltered harbour. The town is served by Santo-Pekoa International Airport , the second largest airport in Vanuatu. The city is also serviced by a number of taxis, buses, and public transport trucks. Luganville features a tropical rainforest climate ( Af ) under the Köppen climate classification . The town features relatively constant temperatures year-round, with average temperature hovering around 25 °C or 77 °F. Average precipitation

1161-527: The fighter planes. The SS President Coolidge was a converted luxury liner that hit a sea mine during the war and was sunk. The shipwreck off Espiritu Santo later became a popular diving spot. The presence of the Americans contributed later to the island's tourism in scuba diving , as the Americans dumped most of their used military and naval equipment, and their refuse, at what is now known as "Million Dollar Point". In highly fictionalized form, this

1204-405: The former French name "Canal du Segond"). Luganville served as a major base of operations for American troops during World War II . Boulevard Higinson, the main street that runs through Luganville, contains mainly tourist boutiques and general stores. During WWII, the Americans used the Espiritu Santo as a military base ; as a result of the occupation, Boulevard Higinson is unusually wide, as

1247-617: The government's budget, the hospital still relies heavily on donations. There are six main banking organizations in Luganville: Reserve Bank of Vanuatu , Wanfuteng Bank, the National Bank of Vanuatu , Bank South Pacific , BRED Bank, and ANZ Bank . Broadband internet was not available in Luganville until late 2006. Luganville is one of Vanuatu's busiest ports, especially as a transshipment point for copra , coconut oil, and cacao . Canal du Segond ,

1290-501: The island contains many caves which can be explored, and cruise ships often stop in at Luganville . The local people make their living by supporting the tourist trade, by cash-crop farming, mostly copra , but also some cocoa beans and kava , as well as peanuts , or by subsistence farming and fishing. Most of the people are Christians. The largest church groups on the island are the Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu ,

1333-608: The island. The museum curates special exhibitions such as the 2022/23 SS President Coolidge Exhibition. The exhibition launched on October 27, 2022 on what was the 80th anniversary of the sinking of the troop carrying passenger liner on the shores of Espiritu Santo. The commemoration and exhibition opening was attended by dignitaries including the Australian High Commissioner to Vanuatu, the New Zealand High Commissioner to Vanuatu,

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1376-535: The local diet. Espiritu Santo is home to a number of cattle farms (including the famous Belmol Cattle Project, originally established by French settlers), and the island exports much of its beef to Japan, Australia, and other Pacific countries. Besides beef, tinned fish, and rice bought in town, Espiritu Santo has many foods that locals take for granted, and that tourists enjoy as delicacies. Among these are sweet pineapples, mangoes, island cabbage, flying foxes, and coconut crab , as well as local nuts such as natapoa and

1419-590: The local government, the Elwood J Euart Association — a group of business leaders in Luganville — was formed to spearhead the effort. A site was chosen for the museum on the banks of the Sarakata River . The area was the former home of U.S. Navy’s Motor Torpedo Squadron 2 on the edge of Luganville's Unity Park. In 2016, the Vanuatu Government represented by Minister for Lands Ralph Regenvanu and

1462-545: The military campaigns, the experiences of soldiers, and the impact of the war in the region. Working with WWII historian and author Donna Esposito, the Museum is also involved with researching WWII army, navy and marine corps dog tags found on Espiritu Santo and reuniting them with surviving family members, predominantly in the USA. The South Pacific WWII Museum features a large collection of authentic artefacts and memorabilia from

1505-535: The north side of the island. Queirós named the land La Austrialia [ sic ] del Espíritu Santo in acknowledgment of the Spanish king's descent from the royal House of Austria , and believing he had arrived in the Great Southern Continent, Terra Australis . They entered the bay on the 1st and 2 May: the latter being the day of Saints Philip and James, Queirós named it Bahía de San Felipe y Santiago . The local chief tried to chase

1548-555: The sweet fleshy-fruit called naos in Bislama, or great hog plum in English (a type of Spondias dulcis ). There is a market in Luganville where local food such as yams, sweet potatoes, manioc, taro, cabbage, and other freshly grown island staples are sold. Some local handicrafts are also sold there. Several small supermarkets such as LCM, Unity Shell, and Au bon Marche sell groceries and many packaged goods. The island of Espiritu Santo

1591-702: The time of the British–French Condominium , Hog Harbour , on the northeast coast, was the site of the British district administration, while Segond, near Luganville, was the French district administration. During World War II , particularly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor , the island was used by American naval and air forces as a large military supply and support base, naval harbor, and airfield. Luganville Airfield , also called Bomber Field #3,

1634-459: The town to the west and winds along the south coast of the island for about 40 km ending at the village of Tasiriki on the southwest coast. Canal Road runs along the southern and eastern coasts of the island, north through Hog Harbor and Golden Beach, ending at Port Olry . Big Bay Highway splits off from Canal Road near Turtle Bay on the east coast, runs generally west to the mountains, and then it leads north to Big Bay. The international airport

1677-469: Was a large airfield built by the Seabees of the 40th Naval Construction Battalion in 1943. Also built on the island was Bomber Field No.2 which became Santo-Pekoa International Airport after the war. Palikulo Bay Airfield , also called Bomber Field #1, became part of the main road after the war. Luganville Seaplane Base served the seaplane and Turtle Bay Airfield also called Fighter Field #1 served

1720-580: Was established into one city: Luganville. Base Button is the largest U.S. base in the South Pacific , covering 38 miles, and was used mainly for maintenance and supply storage. Luganville was a major part of preparing American units for the Guadalcanal campaign . Four airfields were built; Palikulo Bay Airfield , Turtle Bay Airfield , and Luganville Airfield no longer exist, but the Bomber 3

1763-523: Was of Melanesian and/or Ni-Vanuatu descent. Those of non-Melanesian descent are a minority and are European, other Pacific Islander, and Asian peoples. Part of the city is formed by squatted informal settlements such as La Milice, Mango, Pepsi, Rowok, Sarakata and St Michel. Mango was first settled by Vietnamese migrants who constructed shelters out of scrap metal left behind by the United States Army . The Vietnamese were repatriated in

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1806-420: Was the locale of James Michener 's Tales of the South Pacific , and of the following Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, South Pacific . Between May and August 1980 the island was the site of a rebellion during the transfer of power over the colonial New Hebrides from the condominium to the independent Vanuatu. Jimmy Stevens ' Nagriamel movement, in alliance with private French interests and backed by

1849-494: Was turned into Santo-Pekoa International Airport . Other facilities built were five military hospitals, Luganville Seaplane Base , Pontoon Wharf, a floating drydock, and thousands of Quonset huts . Luganville is home to the South Pacific WWII Museum dedicated to preserving the history of World War II across the South Pacific region initiated in 2012 by the mayor Peter Sakita. By the second half of

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