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.

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.

 

A new coconut initiation for the community

 Kumanas grandson Rellysdom Aaron Malakana has initiated a coconut nectar/syrup project.

The project is to continue planting young coconut palms for their maturity.

Coconut planting came to halt (More than 50 years ago) in many villages nearby, and villages continue to produce copra and raw oil; these are the 2 project that involves producers for their trading.

Now the idea was to get the project as a pilot project to motivate others to get the villagers to plant coconut for its nectar.

(Organic Coconut Nectar Syrup is a delicious all-natural sweetener made from the sap of the coconut blossom).

Rellysdom believes that once the project starts harvesting these nectars, good money will satisfy villagers as it produces money every minute.

“We are all copycats, and once we started to make money I believe more will involve planting”

He said that the project might need more people involved if there are hundreds of coconut palms to harvest.

"John F Kennedys Debt"

 “Concerning John F Kennedy’s “debt” is one word mentioned in media before my grandfather’s death”

Now it is frequently a headline in the media after Ambassador Caroline Kennedy was appointed as US ambassador to Australia, said Kumana’s grandson Rellysdom A Malakana.

He said, In the past when visitors from the USA and other countries while seeing his grandfather Eroni (Aaron) Kumana, others mentioned the word to his grandfather, and he thought and assume that his grandfather rescue the future president of America.

“JFK Debt, I explain this to my granny”. “In response, my grandfather said that it seems to him that this was not a debt but a gift from a friend”  

Rellysdom said that during events to remember those who died during WWII here in Solomon Island, my grandfather spoke to the media that JF Kennedy and America becomes his treasure.

“I could not believe saving the future president of America,” Kumana said.

“Though my uncle wishes that if America could ever recognize the heroics of their father with something special to honor him”.

The grandson Rellysdom explained that his five recommendation was one of his request to the family of Kennedy.

He said that since the frequent visits from tourists and other special visitors from the USA his community and family members thought of him as the source of benefits from benefactors.

“Today my grandfather is not here, but concerning the “JFK Debt” to me, it sounds like, my grandfather’s idea of a gift”.

“My grandfather has received a log from a friend. Out of it a dugout canoe was made and named it Vaivana, which means a gift”.

Rellysdom said that everything he (Eron Kumana) received from others he call it a GIFT.

My grandfather said that joining scout sounds to him like playing games out there. However, during the height of booming and shelling, is really, you are on a mission to protect your country, and work for your Queen. He said that they are not paid but enjoyed meals with the platoons.

“Now they see me as one of the rescuers, I am proud to save a future president” this was Kumana’s statement, stated Kumana’s grandson.

“What is it? Might a promise… but will always be a gift” said the grandson of Eron Kumana.

Family welcomes the US new Ambassador to Australia

 The family welcomes the US new Ambassador to Australia

Eroni Kumana family here in Kongu village are welcoming the president daughter, the only surviving daughter of Late President John F Kennedy to be the next USA ambassador to Australia.

She also tribute to the courage of Solomon Islanders and Australian coast watchers who rescued her father during World War II.

She said that if confirmed she will work hard to repay this debt.

One of the rescuers late Eroni Kumana was laid to rest here in Kongu village, the family has taken note of Caroline’s posting and an email was sent to appreciate the new US ambassador to Australia.

They are now looking forward to her decision regarding their father, grandfather, or great-great-grandfathers dept.

Climate Change is a concern in our communities.

 Climate Change is a concern in our communities.

Climate change is one major concern that has been overlooked by key people in our community. Worst of all is our people who work selfishly centering their greediness to serve as parasites. Not knowing the global effect is at their doorsteps.

Ranoggah people have experienced this effect but know nothing but they work along.

This issue become worst and overlooked by our leaders. Nevertheless, in another hand, we depend on much to serve from someone’s pocket.

The communities have experienced unusually high tides of about 1.5 to 2 meters sea raise. While in their gardens, crops have produced less than expected and unfertile land that provides for decades has been uncultivable.

So lets us join hands to fight the global effect of climate change. We may help small bits and bits contributions in our communities the bigger we contribute to fighting these effects.

In these coming two elections both provincial and national, we must contribute to dismissing all mindsets of Tom, Dick, and Harry, and help Anna and Mary to understand what is the purpose of having our provincial and national elections.

Our people are the ones who contributed a lot for years and served the population in Gizo and Noro with our products from our gardens. Agriculture should be prioritized on our island to keep maintaining our love for gardening.

SO VOTE WISE ….. THESE COMING ELECTIONS MY GOOD PEOPLE OF RANOGGA

Climate Change, not yet aware in communities yet effects arise

 At first, climate change in our community and surrounding communities around our Island have never aware of what is climate change, and yet villagers are started to wonder what is the actual problem facing them regarding their livelihood.

Unusual high tides are extremely on average that was dangerous during strong winds and tidal waves, and their root crops, fruits, and vegetables are unhealthy and bear less during harvest.

The land was unfertile, worst of all are the insects, flies, birds, and other pests, which are contributing to the problem, said concerned farmers.

Others started to realize what the root causes were from other people regarding climate change. Now more started to comprehend with each other how best they could overcome some of these problems.

Getting things on their feet is the biggest matter as finances are a major issue.

One of the solutions regarding the land issue, speaking is Kumanas grandson reviewed that permaculture is the best solution to overcome their problem.

“We need only those technical people which are not where to find, but we have agriculture people staffs nearby; they are available if they allocate funds for their traveling allowances”

He said that permaculture is cheap and easy to adopt in a small piece of land, which can be used permanently for decades.   

Coronavirus language vision

 Since the coronavirus is suspected outbreak in the community, the family is coming up with its awareness program by publishing a brochure in the community’s language so that everyone may fully understand the virus.

It is yet to be printed and distributed once the fund will available.

Need 1 thousand copies for this.

Eroni Kumana Homestay Project site faces Climate Change.

 

The project Homestay that was located at Eron Kumanas village has faced high tides.

Things became a disaster when the ocean created big waves that wash ashore rocks to the project side and uprooted supported trees.

Family members are looking ahead for possible ways to resolve the situation.

Meanwhile, villages taught that it could be worse than the 2007 tsunami. If this is ignored

There are high tides coming at the end of every year, which we taught is normal and safe at low land, but now high tides are unusual.

They said that some of them have heard of climate change others nothing, but now they have learned from others what is happening and witnessed themselves the rising sea level. Though more of the villages are building at higher ground, most of their landing areas and shades for fuels and trades are at sea level.

Months between November 2021 and January 2022 Gizo Island has experienced unusually high tides, which alarms many people residing in coastal areas.

 In general, the tide height of about 1 to 2 meters must have also caused fear and confusion to other communities around the country.

Generous Support from the Team USA, Project Yet to Complete

A Home-Stay Accommodation project known as Eroni Kumana is yet to complete.

The generous support was from John Kulewicz and his team from USA who funded the project. The six-man team was here in the Solomon for swimming the 4.2 mile route from Kennedy Island to Olosana and Naru and back to Kennedy Island; this is to commemorate the memory of the PT 109 crew.

 The swimmers are Peter Canfield (an Atlanta lawyer), John Kulewicz (a Columbus lawyer and team leader of the swimmer), Rich Lovering (a Columbus lawyer). Jack Lundberg (a builder in Montana and Ohio), Jay Madigan (an Orlando environmental consultant) and Adrian Mula (from Antigua, first mate on the yacht Antares, anchored nearby).

 

With their generous donation of about SBD$10, 000.00 for the Aaron (Eroni) Kumana family, the family has erected the Home stay accommodation as part of AKs 5 Recommendations.

The donation was received and the project started on the beginning 2019. Though the project sounds very very slow but the family members are committed to finish it.

The family has continued their little fundraising to continue the project.