Vuhokesa

The Mamana Water Settlement as well as the Lord Howe Settlement are squeezed in between the main road and the shore line, a distance of 30–100 metres. The land is not suitable for agriculture except for small garden beds. However, brick-making using sand is practised at Mamana while at Lord Howe, the sand beach is used for beach soccer tournaments.[3]

In 2012 the Mamana Water Community were the first group of women to graduate from Sistas Savve and participated in a fundraiser to build a permanent leaf hut where they can organize, meet and create their products.[4] Clean-up Honiara campaigns often focus around the Mamana Water Settlement.[5]

The Mamana Water Settlement as well as the Lord Howe Settlement is often inundated with tidal surges, especially during the wet season.[6]

Settlements including Lord Howe, Mamana Water and Fishing Village (Fishery) are the most vulnerable for inundation in the city as they are situated right on the coastline. Extreme high tide coupled with storm can inundate these settlements as they are only 5 meters away from the high tide water line.[7]

The Magistrate's Court has civil jurisdiction and can hear claims in contract or tort where the amount does not exceed SBC 2000 (principal Magistrate SBC 6000). The criminal jurisdiction of the magistrate's courts varies according to the class of magistrate. All classes of magistrates have jurisdiction to try criminal matters summarily while the Principal Magistrate has jurisdiction in relation to offences that carry punishment up to 14 years and may only impose a term of imprisonment of five years or a fine of $1,000 or both.[8]

Bridge over Mataniko River facing Vuhokesa. Guadalcanal American Memorial to left. Kua Bay to right. Honiara

The Honiara Town Council (HTC) was created between 1956 and 1958. The Town Council was constituted under the 1957 Town Council Ordinance by a warrant issued by the High Commissioner on 1 March 1958, although the first full elections were not held until 1969.[9]

The Honiara City Council was established under section four (4) of the Honiara City Act 1999 to make provision for the establishment of a City Council for the Honiara City; to prescribe its functions and powers and for matters connected therewith.[10] The council services include Health, City Growth, Education and Recreation Services and the Environment [11] and the nine divisions of the council include, Finance, Law Enforcement, Physical Planning, Administration, Works, Market, Education, Youth, Sports & Women’s Affairs and Health and Medical Services.[12]

The Solomon Islands Public Library, situated near the Mataniko River just outside Chinatown in Honiara, was opened by Rev. Charles Fox (q.v.) in August 1968.[13] The National Library of Solomon Islands was then established in 1974 with the aim of reorganising existing library services and extending reading services to the entire nation.[13]

In 2003 during the civil war, the library was mostly destroyed and in 2005 the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) government donated a large quantity of books to the library.[14]

The Dettke family of German origin was said to own the ITA hardware, a very large building in Vuhokesa.[15] Bodo Dettke was a prominent politician in Solomon Islands.[16][17]

The Hyundai mall building is Honiara's newest shopping center and houses several medical facilities, embassies and commercial businesses and banking facilities. The developer, Korean Enterprises Ltd., at the time of planning, promised "the largest retail and commercial building in Solomon Islands". Designed by Pacific Architect Limited, the three-storey building covers 10,000 square meters.[18]

A professional services building located in Mendana Ave. Possibly named after Alvaro Mendana.

The Honiara Central Market is managed by the Honiara Central Market Vendor's Association [19][20][21] whose aim is to ensure Honiara Central Market is safe, healthy and economically conducive workplace for all by strengthening communication with Market Management, representing market vendors’ needs and interests and identifying opportunities for market vendors to learn and develop new skills.[22] The association was formed in 2014 to promote the rights and interests of stallholders and to help improve conditions at the Solomon Islands biggest market.[23]

The market is regulated by the Honiara City Council, and specific items are permitted to be sold providing the stallholder pay the appropriate fees.[24]

In 1976, the Chief Minister,(later Prime Minister), Solomon Mamaloni addressed strikers at the Central Market who were protesting about the introduction of self-government. Protesters were later dispersed with tear gas.[25]

In 1989, riots broke out in Honiara over a sign displayed at the Central Market purportedly by the Bellonese that was designed to insult the majority Malaitan population. The Prime Minister, Solomon Mamaloni, warned that the troubles had the potential to develop into a lethal cancer.[26] Several years later, ethnic violence increased and resulted in civil war.

• Island Lodge
• Quality Motel / Rockhaven Inn - Lekamboli Lane, Lower Vavaya Ridge
• Sea King restaurant

The head office for SIWA is located in Vuhokesa on the highway near the Mataniko River [31]

The Solomon Islands Water Authority is a state-owned enterprise wholly owned by the Government of Solomon Islands. It is mandated to operate as the provider of municipal water and wastewater services in Solomon Islands by the SIWA Act of 1992. As a state-owned enterprise it is also subject to the State-Owned Enterprise Act of 2007 modified in 2010. The Authority is governed by an independent Board of Directors, appointed by the responsible Ministers in accordance with the State Owned Enterprises Act, 2007. The Board is responsible for the prudent and transparent governance of the organisation. It reports to Minister of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification and to the Minister of Finance.[32]