WOMEN in Langalanga Lagoon, Malaita Province have expressed their appreciation for the initiative to reopen the long-discussed Laulasi Tourism Centre in Aoke Langalanga Constituency, Malaita Province.
Once a major attraction in the 1970s, Laulasi gained international recognition as a cultural tourism hub.
The centre drew visitors eager to experience traditional practices such as shell money minting and ancestral spiritual rituals.
On 6th August, seven tribes that own the Laulasi islands sign a peace agreement to redevelop the centre.
Seventy-year-old Goretti Peter, one of the many women who benefited from the tourism centre during its heyday, described the reopening as a joyful and long-awaited moment.
“It brings back memories,” she recalled.
“When Laulasi was operating, women came to trade their products with international tourists. We earned good money, which helped support our families, pay school fees, and build homes.”
Mrs. Peter recalled that since the centre’s closure, many women were forced to travel to Honiara to sell their shell money and handmade necklaces.
Another mother, Angela Rockimaesu, shared similar sentiments following a reconciliation ceremony between tribes that paved the way for the centre’s reopening.
“This is the development we’ve been waiting for,” she said.
“When Laulasi was opened, women benefited greatly through the sale of our products.”
She thanked the community leaders and the tribes for recognising the importance of this initiative.
“It will truly help us women.”
The reopening of Laulasi Tourism Centre marks a significant step toward revitalising cultural tourism in Malaita and empowering local women economically.
By SOLOMON LOFANA
Solomon Star, Auki
