Mt Popomaneseu, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands

Mt Popomaneseu is the highest among the highest mountain ranges on the island of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands.

Haiacha the ridgeline that includes Mt Popomaneseu reaches an elevation of 2351m. The ridge
known as Haiacha refers to flat tree. "Hai" is the word for "trees" and "acha" means "same". "Popo" means "wooden bowl" and "seu" means "coconut shell" These represent livelihood. Other explanations for this name (Popomaneseu) refer to the "wooden bowl" appearance of the bog or pool when looking down from the summit. Either way, the place holds sacred traditional significance to the indigenous peoples of Guadalcanal.
The area boasts an amazing diversity of birds, frogs, reptiles (especially skinks), mammals (such as the montane monkey faced bat), and plant life. Flowering montane plants and orchids are abundant. Some species are only found here and perhaps no where else on earth. The forests of the summit ridge are a maze of thick moss covered stunted trees - weather beaten and hard, their roots penetrating into the soil lattice. The major rivers of Guadalcanal all have their sources above 2,285m in this bog. From here trickles down icy cold water, one drop at a time collecting as it flows down Haiacha into small streams which finally burst into torrential rivers that flow over huge boulders down the mountain. From Mt Popomaneseu panning east across the entire South Pacific one will not reach a higher land elevation until reaching the Andes in South America. And according to some experts this makes it the highest land elevation in the tropical South Pacific Islands, excluding New Guinea and its islands. Mt Popomanesu as any other forested landscape on Guadalcanal is of global biodiversity value, and deserves our efforts for it's protection not only as a biological treasure, but more so because its people and their cultural heritage is also coupled to this panorama. I have placed some photographs of this landscape, perhaps the first to be online from this site on earth, and hope it will increase our appreciation as Solomon Islanders, Melanesians, Pacific Islanders, and as humans of the value and beauty of our environment, and it's place in nurturing and fostering our traditional societies and supplying our ancestors with earths natural bounties for their survival. I truly believe that this space on earths surface and its legacy is worth saving.

Below are diary entries from a trail clearing expedition to the summit of Mt Popomaneseu from 24 March to 2 April, 2008.

First day relaxing at upper Tina River.

Arriving at Malukuna village. Village has been overgrown and abandoned. Malukuna use to be the most

populated village in the Malango district of central Guadalcanal. Nestled at the foot hills of the high ridges

of the central Guadalcanal range.

During the colonial administration in the Solomons, there were many injustices in the purchase of land. This steal pot and bottle were said to be for the purchase of Lungga Land. Chiefs were paid land with these tools. This one is hidden at Malukuna village.

Cutting a trail through old gardens at Malukuna Village, Malango.

Moth

On the trail.

The boys in the stunted forest of Haiacha. The place teems with life.

The summit of Mt Popomaneseu, 2,351m.

Relaxing at the bog below the summit at about 2,285m.

Orchids are abundant in forest.