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  • 21 Aug, 2019

  • By, Wikipedia

Kennedy Island
Kennedy Island (local name Kasolo Island, also known as Plum Pudding Island), is a 1.17 hectares (2.9 acres), uninhabited island in Solomon Islands that was named after John F. Kennedy, following an incident involving Kennedy during his World War II naval career. Kennedy Island lies 15 minutes by boat from Gizo, the provincial capital of the Western Province of Solomon Islands.

History

PT-109 incident

Main article: Motor Torpedo Boat PT-109
Kennedy Island in 2012

The island is notable for its role in the story of PT-109, part of the Pacific Ocean theater of World War II. In August 1943, it was to this island that the crew of the ship, commanded by then Lieutenant Kennedy, swam after their craft was rammed and sunk by the Japanese destroyer Amagiri. Two American sailors died in the incident. Kennedy later had the crew swim to the larger Olasana Island where they were found and helped by Melanesian scouts, Biuku Gasa and Eroni Kumana, dispatched by coastwatcher Reg Evans.

A small shrine to Kennedy, built by Solomon Islander Eroni Kumana who aided in the rescue of the crew, stands on the island.

Recent history

The island remains uninhabited, but is a tourist attraction. In 2003, a race was held where participants re-enacted Kennedy's swim.

Previously a public area, it was acquired in 2004 at a cost of SI$7000 (US$950) by Joseph Douglas, an advisor to then Caretaker Premier of Western Province Clement Base. The legality of the sale was the subject of a legal challenge. In 2009, Douglas sold Kennedy Island to Gizo Hotel (owned by Australian Shane Kennedy), one year after brother Dan Kennedy purchased the resort closest to Kennedy Island (Fatboys on Mbabanga Island).

In August 2023, U.S. Ambassador to Australia and daughter of President Kennedy Caroline Kennedy and her son Jack Schlossberg recreated part of President Kennedy’s historic swim following the sinking of PT-109. Joined by a team of Solomon Islander swimmers, the Ambassador and Jack swam about 1.2km between Naru and Olasana Islands — a passage that President Kennedy swam multiple times in the days after the sinking of PT-109 to bring his crew supplies and communicate with the Solomon Scouts.

President Kennedy's daughter Caroline Kennedy and her son Jack Schlossberg at Kennedy Island in 2023

See also

References

  1. ^ Borthwick, John (12 February 2016). "Solomon Islands: In Kennedy's footsteps". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  2. ^ "John F. Kennedy and PT109". John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  3. ^ "JFK's epic Solomons swim". BBC. 30 July 2003. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  4. ^ Brown, Rob (6 August 2014). "The Solomon Islanders who saved JFK". BBC. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  5. ^ "John F Kennedy and Solomon Islands". Solomon Airlines. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  6. ^ Szetu, Robertson (10 March 2005). "Kennedy Island Sale To Be Challenged In Solomons". Pacific Islands Report. Archived from the original on 11 October 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  7. ^ Jones, Lloyd (13 June 2005). "JFK's island back in the wars". The Age. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  8. ^ "Solomon Islands Island named after JFK has a new owner". RNZ. Radio New Zealand. 18 March 2009.
  9. ^ "Solomons resort has new owner". Thorn Tree forum. Lonely Planet. 6 Nov 2009.
  10. ^ Cave, Damien (August 21, 2023). "Where Her Father Became a Hero, Caroline Kennedy Redefines Diplomacy". New York Times. Retrieved September 29, 2024.


8°6′46″S 156°54′20″E / 8.11278°S 156.90556°E / -8.11278; 156.90556

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