Island mobilities: spatial and social mobility on Ontong Java, Solomon Islands

Abstract

Like many island people, Ontong Javans are always on the move to and from their gardens or the sea, between islands within the atoll, and to other localities both within and outside Solomon Islands. This article explores the nature of this mobility and the ways in which the spatial mobility of Ontong Javans is linked to their livelihood strategies and to social mobility. Building on both quantitative and qualitative data collected over a period of nine months spent on Ontong Java and in Honiara, it is shown how Ontong Javans are highly mobile on a range of spatial and temporal scales. Mobility is shown to be especially linked to changes in livelihood opportunities, which have varied greatly over the years on Ontong Java, whereas the connection between spatial and social mobility is less apparent. Since extensive mobility practices are an integral part of livelihoods, and islanders have well-established links to relatives and work off the island, they may be in a better position to cope with externally induced changes than is often supposed.

Keywords:

• mobility
• livelihoods
• remittances
• small islands
• Ontong Java
• Solomon Islands

Acknowledgements

The 2006 research was part of the Galathea 3 Expedition carried out under the auspices of the Danish Expedition Foundation. This is Galathea 3 contribution no. 90. The research was part of the CLIP project carried out by the University of Copenhagen, Danish Meteorological Institute, University of the South Pacific and Solomon Islands Meteorological Service Centre. We would like to thank the Danish Expedition Foundation for assuring the funding provided by Bikubenfonden. Additional funding was provided by Knud Højgaards Fond, COWIfonden, Brødrene Hartmann's Fond, Danish Social Science Research Council, Department of Geography and Geology (University of Copenhagen), the Danish Meteorological Institute and the University of the South Pacific. Finally, we would like to thank Tim Bayliss-Smith for invaluable comments and data provided for this article as well as the communities on Ontong Java for their support and hospitality.