Eroni Kumana

My photo
Gizo, Western province, Solomon Islands

Featured Post

Grandson said to Repeat History

The grandson said that now they make it to alive their (Eroni, Biuku, and President Kennedy) spirit to see each other after the war. “At las...

Thursday, August 11, 2022

JFK wishes speech ahead first

John F Kennedy (Eroni Kumana’s youngest son) wishes his message for Ambassador Caroline Kennedy may be handed to her before arriving in Honiara.

His message was compiled together by his nephews to take with him to Honiara. Unfortunately, he cannot make it but asked that his message may send over.

Fortunately, the Kumana family is lucky to have the 4th son of Kumana John Koloni who resided at Honiara representing the family during Ambassador Caroline Kennedy's visit to Honiara.

 


His Message reads;

 

Dear Honorable Ambassador Caroline Kennedy.

On behalf of the entire Eron Kumana family, I would like to take this opportunity with joy and highly appreciate it by welcoming you to the Solomon.

Your job as US ambassador to Australia has brought you close to where your father fought to save the Solomon Island and brought your father's spirit to associate their wish to meet after WWII.

My father, Eroni Kumana has seen Maxwell Kennedy at Gizo, Western Province. This has satisfied him to see one of the Kennedy family, and today I and my brother Koloni represent the family of Kumana; we would like to say, we have seen the face of the Late President Kennedy whom our father saved during WWII.

Our father the late Eroni Kumana had displayed qualities in life during his lifetime, with our family and as well as his own village. He is known to be a good adviser, courageous person, very brave, Christian, and hardworking father, he was humble and always wanted to live in peace with everyone.

My father has an opportunity to have visitors from all over the world during his time.

Most of them affirmed him for his famous story of the PT109 tragedy and classified him as a hero, but here in Solomon, he is just a subsistence farmer and a fisherman.

However, seeing him as a rescuer of the US president, his community thought of him as a resource person who would develop their community. From that fact, he made promises.

Our late father wished that his dreams be fulfilled in the future, even though he had died. His death has left us, especially our immediate family with challenges; therefore, we try hard to highlight some of his recommendations

However, he has given us comforting words to take courage and continue to achieve things yet to be done and to live in peace with others.

Our immediate family of late Eroni Kumana wishes to extend our words of appreciation and acknowledgment for recognizing and honoring our father for the hard work and bravery he rendered in assisting your father during WWII’s fierce and bloody battle in the western part of the Solomon.

The strong partnership they had become a historical event and remains in the hearts of our immediate families. This relationship had made us know each other until these days.  

Once again, and on behalf, I would like to extend my thanks to you for your visit, marking the 80th anniversary of the battle of Guadalcanal. It was really an honor to have you with us, and your presence made the celebration all the most memorable.

For our family, your decorous attendance at the celebration reaffirms the true strength of Solomon Island American relations. To have such a strong, productive relationship is a great source of reassurance.

Again, with visiting delegations, we believe the US is stepping up efforts to push back against Chinese diplomatic inroads. 

To conclude, we would like to show our heartfelt gratitude and congratulate you on the remarkable progress you have made with Japan, and we believe reopening the US office here in Honiara is a very positive sign to strengthen the bilateral relations between Solomon Island and America.

Once again, and on behalf of the family, I John F Kennedy (Namesake) represents the family of Eroni Kumana, and with my brother Koloni have this opportunity to encounter you face to face and wish your visit to Solomon Island a successful outcome.

 

May God richly Blessed your Days

(John F Kennedy)

Tuesday, August 9, 2022

Kumana's grandson join national Under-19

 Eroni Kamana’s grandson Aoga joined the under 19 national team in the final phase of his preparation for the OFC U-19 Championship next month in Tahiti.




A squad of 24 players in their 3 days week training under the guidance of coach Jerry Allen and technical support of Head of National teams and High-Performance Felipe Vega-Arango and Eddie Rukumana.
The final squad will be named in the coming weeks ahead of a proposed two-week training camp in Australia end of this month. #U20

Afia Aoga kumana was named a hero after squaring three goals in the final during U16 in Honiara winning for the Western Province.

A very talented boy in Kongu village who loves soccer.

He is always involved in training bringing up his village boys to the higher level when visiting his home Ranogga Island.

Sunday, August 7, 2022

Ambassador Kennedy thanked Solomon Scouts who saved her father

 THE selfless service and sacrifice of the Solomon Scouts and Coastwatchers were acknowledged during the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal, Sunday. 

US Ambassador to Australia and daughter of John F. Kennedy made this statement during the dawn service at Skyline Ridge yesterday (Sunday 7th August 2022). 



“Because of the selfless service and sacrifice of the Solomon Scouts and Coastwatchers, the Allies were able to hold Guadalcanal. 

“And because of Guadalcanal, the Allies achieved victory in the Pacific,” Ambassador Kennedy said. 

She also took the opportunity to thank two Solomon Islander Scouts – Biaku Gasa and Eroni Kumana – who saved her father’s life. 

“While we all owe a debt of gratitude to the Solomon Islanders who risked their lives during the Pacific Campaign, my family and I owe a personal debt of gratitude to two Solomon Islander Scouts — Biaku Gasa and Eroni Kumana – who saved my father’s life. 

“Thanks to them, he and his crew survived the sinking of PT-109 and were able to return home and eventually run for President,” she said. 

She said her father’s experiences on Guadalcanal made him the man and the leader that he was, just as the experiences of so many others shaped the men and women they would become. 

“It resolved him to seek a more peaceful and just world, and he gave his life for his country. 

“I’m deeply touched to be here today, knowing that I might not be here if it were not for Biaku Gasa and Eroni Kumana,” Ms Kennedy said yesterday. 

“I look forward to returning to Solomon Islands with my children and showing them this part of our family history – which is so closely intertwined with this country – and telling them about the partnership we’ve shared with Solomon Islanders in years since the war. 

She added that countless Americans and Allied families have Solomon Islanders to thank for their survival. 

“We’re here today not only to express our gratitude to those who sacrificed during the war, but also to those who established peace and worked for the years and decades that followed to bring our nations closer. 

 “It’s our way to honour those who came before us and to work and do our best to leave a legacy for those who follow,” she said. 

Ambassador Kennedy is part of the US delegation led by Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman in Solomon Islands to honour those who fought the Battle of Guadalcanal during the Second World War. 

Ambassador Caroline Kennedy Presents a Replica

 US new ambassador to Australia Ambassador Caroline Kennedy (The only surviving daughter of the late president of the USA, President John F Kennedy) presented a replica; copy of the coconut husk to John Kolono and Nelma Ane during her visit to Solomon Island.

 




During the presentation, Caroline Kennedy reviewed that She and her late father owed a personal debt of gratitude to two Solomon Islander Scouts — Biuku Gasa and Eroni Kumana – who saved my father’s life.

 She thanked them, he and his crew survived the sinking of PT-109 and were able to return home and eventually run for President.

 “I’m deeply touched to be here today, knowing that I might not be here if it were not for Biuku Gasa and Eroni Kumana.

 The meeting between Caroline Kennedy with the children of the two men that saved her father during the war in the Pacific moved everyone.

 She also presented the pair and others with medals, for supporting the Australian World War II coast watcher presence in the Solomon Islands.





 Kumana and Gasa encountered JFK, then a 26-year-old naval officer, and his crew in 1943 when JFK's boat was rammed and sunk by a Japanese destroyer.

 JFK led his remaining 10 crew members in a week-long fight for survival, swimming to a series of tiny deserted islands.

 Kumana and Gasa took a message from JFK written on a coconut husk to the nearest Allied base 35 miles away, which had them rescued.

 “I’m honored and proud of my dad, and I’m happy to receive on behalf of him. I wish he was here to receive this medal,” Koloni said.