Welcome to Bellona Island
(Mungiki)
 Bellona Island is known in Bellonese as
Mungiki; the Island
which their great ancestors found and settled some centuries ago.
The name Mungiki may have been originated from Polynesia
as it has no clear meaning to the people of
Bellona Island today, although many historians believed Mungiki may mean "the small"
Island.
Mungiki was first described by the
mediaum who accompanied the
Clansmen's journey from Uvea, "Te Nuku Sumangie", which many
people speculated
to mean "The land of Happiness"
. It was
said that w hen the double-Hulled Canoe
approached Bellona Island early that morning from the
East, the Medium, for the first time, stood and called
out "Oo ho, tu'u a Mungiki," which translated to mean,
"Wow, there appears Mungiki".
The medium then performed a dance that is
still performed today by Bellonese traditional
dancers.
The Bellonese language is similar to
other Polynesian languages, especially the Maori of Aotearoa
and the language of the Cook Islands. However, Bellonese
language today has slight differences from the original one.
The traditional songs and the formal greetings (Hakamuna'aki)
of the Bellonese people are full of phrases, words,
and implied statements not known to modern Bellonese
people. It is a linguistic truth that language evolves over the
years.
Bellona Island (Te Henua 'of
Mungiki)
Bellona Island is the most populated Island
of the Rennell Bellona province. It is a 10 by 2 km little
island. The center of the Island is low and fertile and is
protected by high rising lime rock cliffs and huge trees that
formed the wedge around this tiny
Island. More about Bellona Island: Visit bellona.dk
(a website created by Anthropologists from Denmark who worked
to compile our history into books in the last 40
years).
Some Research Works
on Bellona Island
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-
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Visit Bellona.dk for more
materials on Rennell Bellona
island
Physical Description
Those
who have written about Bellona Islands varied in their
description of this little paradise. Some wrote that the
island is about 11 KM long, others recorded 10 KM. The width
of the island is approximately 2 KM. The center of the
island is low and fertile, but protected by high rising
rocky cliffs and dense forest. The Western part of the
island is lower than the Eastern side which rises to some 80
Metres above sea-level.
Factions and Fictions
Facts:
- Bellona Island has no electricity, but
many homes have solar panels that provided sufficient
electricity and light.
- Bellona island has no running water.
Each home has a water tank that catches and preserves
rainwater.
- No post office, banks, nor internet.
- No police station and no cops. People
resolve their own conflicts, but when things get out of
hand, police officers from nearby Rennell would fly in and
deal with them.
- Bellona has no Rivers or
creeks!
- Don't underestimate the size of this
island. You better think twice before walking from one end
to the other. Bicycle is the ideal transport here.
- You don't need money to survive on
this island. Unless you travel to this island alone and may
want to spend a few nights in a lodge. Otherwise, it is
better to visit Bellona with a friend.
- The island is ideal for hiking. Rocky
cliffs around Bellona are deadly. Ask a local man to
accompany you. Bag up some food and water before
hiking.
Join the Bellonese Forum
for serious discussion.
Take me to the
Forums
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Documentary
[Uploaded 2009]Documentary:
DocumentaryIsland's
Profile
Since 1938
- In the past, Bellona Island was divided into
three districts: Sa'aiho (West Bellona), Ghongau
(Central-largest district) and Matangi (East Ballona).
Today, Bellona is divided into Provincial Wards: Ward 7
(Matangi), Ward 8 (East Ghongau), Ward 9 (West Ghongau) and
Ward 10 (West Bellona).
- There are at least five active denominations on
Bellona island. The Seventh Day Adventist (the largest with
church buildings in these places: Matamoana (West Bellona),
Ngongona (Central Bellona), and Matangi (East Bellona)),
South Sea Evangelical (Church buildings in the following
areas: Ngotokanaba (West Bellona), Pauta, and
Taugangoto-Ghongau), Baptist Church (Ahenoa village),
Anglican church (Tongomainge-West Bellona), and the
Christian Brotherhood Church (Nukuma'anu).
- Bellona island has three schools: Angaiho
(subsidized by the government: recently upgraded to a high
School), Mataiho (Seventhday Adventist primary school), and
Siva (government owned High School).
- The only clinic in the island is located in the
Pauta District, serving the entire island with only a single
nurse.
- The Provincial government has two trucks
operated on Bellona Island; there is one on the Eastern side
(Matangi) and the other serves the people of West Bellona
(Ahanga-Matamoana).
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