Isabel Province Day is celebrated on June 2 this year. If the date falls on a Sunday the public holiday is held on the following Monday. The Isabel Province, located in Oceania, is a province of the Solomon Islands with a population of about 35,000 people. The capital of Isabel Province is Buala, on Santa Isabel Island. Isabel Province doesn’t get a lot of visits by tourists due to a lack of proper infrastructures such as roads, bridges, modern medical care, and hotels. Isabel Province day is a day to celebrate Isabel Province and bring more awareness about the province and its citizens to the world.

History of Isabel Province Day

On February 7, 1568, Spanish explorer Álvaro de Mendaña became the first European to land in the Solomon Islands archipelago and Isabel Province. It was then charted as Santa Isabel de la Estrella, meaning Saint Elizabeth of the Star of Bethlehem. A settlement was then established by the Spaniards and they moved on to building a boat to survey and chart the surrounding sea and islands.Maestre de Campo Pedro Ortega Valencia and Alférez Hernando Enríquez led the local explorations and they led to the discovery of the islands of Malaita, Savo, Guadalcanal, Makira, Vangunu, Malaupaina, Choiseul, Ulawa, Ali’ite, Malaulalo, and Ugi Island. The relationship between the Spanish and the Solomon Islanders at first was peaceful and slowly turned sour as the need for fresh food and water by the Spanish could no longer be satisfied by the subsistence economy of the Solomon Islanders. This then led to tension and conflict between the people. With little food and no gold found accompanied by attacks and sickness, the Spaniards moved their colony and their settlement on Santa Isabel was abandoned. Locals on Santa Isabel Island were periodically attacked through a process called ‘blackbirding,’ which was the kidnapping or forced recruitment of laborers for sugar plantations in Queensland and Fiji.The North Solomon Islands came under the protection of Germany in April 1885 and that included Isabel Province. The treaty of Berlin was then signed in 1899 as Germany transferred most parts of the North Solomon Islands, including Isabel province to the British Solomon Islands Protectorate in exchange for the British giving up claims to Samoa.

Isabel Province Day timeline

1568
The Discovery

Spanish explorer Álvaro de Mendaña discovers the Solomon Islands archipelago and Isabel Province.

1885
Isabel Province Falls Under the German Protectorate

The North Solomon Islands becomes under the protection of Germany.

1899
The Treaty of Berlin

The treaty of Berlin is signed to hand over parts of the Northern Solomon Islands, including Isabel Province to the British Protectorate in exchange for Samoa.

2015
First Celebration

The first celebration of Isabel Province Day takes place.

Isabel Province Day FAQs

How old are the Solomon Islands?

The islands have been inhabited since between 30,000 and 28,800 B.C.

What is the motto of Solomon island?

The motto of the Solomon Islands is “To Lead is to Serve.”

Is the Solomon Islands a poor country?

It is one of the poorest countries in Asia.

Isabel Province Day Activities

  1. Visit Isabel Province

    Visit Isabel Province to celebrate the day. It’ll be another country checked off your list of places you’ve visited.

  2. Learn more about the history

    The history of the Isabel Province is long. Read more about it as it is an interesting one.

  3. Spread awareness

    Spread awareness about the day. You shouldn't be the only one that knows about Isabel Province Day amongst your friends or family.

5 Facts About Solomon Islands

  1. It has over 900 Islands

    The Solomon Islands are made up of over 900 islands and half remain uninhabited.

  2. The largest saltwater lagoon in the world

    At about 270 square miles, the Marovo Lagoon in the Solomon Islands is the largest saltwater lagoon in the world.

  3. An island named after an American President

    Kennedy island is named after the former American President, John F. Kennedy.

  4. The official language is English

    Even though their official language is English, only about one to 2% can speak English fluently.

  5. It has an active underwater volcano

    It has an underwater volcano called Kavachi and it can be found just south of Vangunu Island.

Why We Love Isabel Province Day

  1. It brings more attention to Isabel Province

    Not a lot of people know Isabel Province. Celebrating the day helps more people know about this fascinating place.

  2. It helps boost their economy

    The day indirectly boosts their economy. As more people get to know about Isabel Province, there’s more chance of tourists visiting.

  3. It is a day of fun

    The day ushers in a public holiday in Isabel Province. This helps the citizens take a break from work and just have fun.

Isabel Province Day dates

Year Date Day
2022 June 2 Thursday
2023 June 2 Friday
2024 June 3 Monday
2025 June 2 Monday
2026 June 2 Tuesday