Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 2. Human Activities
Draft 1 March 2007
[probably Orona] to Wagina, Solomon Islands (Cochrane 1970). The advance party prepared
houses and land. In early 1964, the main party from the Phoenix Islands arrived in Wagina.
In 1963, 590 Gilbertese were evacuated from Orona (Hull) (King 1973). They were
evacuated to Wagina, Solomon Islands (Douglas and Douglas 1994). The island was
evacuated in 1965 due to lack of water (Hydrographer of the Navy 1969; severe drought
according to Garnett 1983a).
Settlers on Orona (Hull) and Nikumaroro (Gardner) were evacuated to the Solomon Islands,
even though by January 1964 the islands had clearly recovered from the drought (MacDonald
1982). The primary factor for the relocation was the cost and inconvenience of
administration.
According to Di Piazza and Pearthree (2004), the real reason for abandonment of the
resettlement scheme on Orona was not the drought, but rather homesickness, isolation, and
lack of communication. Wells were salted so that officials would send settlers back to the
Gilbert Islands.
In 1968, the flagstaff was reported missing and the markings for anchorages and the boat
passage were gone (Hydrographer of the Navy 1969).
In 1968, there were no residents on Abariringa (Canton), Orona (Hull), and Nikumaroro
(Gardner) (Zwart and Groenewegen 1968).
In 1969, as part of the Canton Operating Location that was set up by the USAF SMTC, tall
radar towers were constructed on Orona (Hull), Abariringa (Canton), and Enderbury (Stack
1982; temporary facilities set up in the 1970s according to King et al 2001; see also King
1973; Oates 2003).
Since 1970, the U.S. Department of Defense had authority on Abariringa (Canton), Birnie,
Enderbury, and Orona (Hull) to conduct missile launch tracking research (Balazs 1975).
In 1970, a 61 m (200 ft) antenna was constructed on Orona (Hull) by the USAF (King 1973;
see also Stack 1982). The antenna was checked periodically by heliocopter from Abariringa
(Canton). About 5 ha were cleared around the U.S. Air Force SAMTEC site on Orona
(Hull) (Garnett 1983a). The facility was serviced daily by heliocopter from Abariringa
(Canton) (see also Garnett 1983a).
From 1970 to 1979, there was a small American team on Orona (Hull) to man a satellite and
missile tracking station (Garnett 1983a).
Orona (Hull) was claimed by the U.K. and the U.S. (King 1973).
In May and June 1973, an ecological survey was conducted on Abariringa (Canton), Birnie,
Enderbury, Manra (Sydney), Orona (Hull), and Rawaki (Phoenix) (Fosberg et al 1973). The
purpose of this survey was to report on the ecological impacts of SAMTEC operations, assess
the status of terrestrial ecology of islands visited, and to make recommendations to minimise
adverse ecological effects of SAMTEC operations.
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