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Coordinates: 08°31′S 179°12′E / 8.517°S 179.200°E / -8.517; 179.200
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[[File:Office of Tuvalu Telecom.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Offices of the [[Tuvalu Telecommunications Corporation]]]]
[[File:Office of Tuvalu Telecom.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Offices of the [[Tuvalu Telecommunications Corporation]]]]


The district of Funafuti comprises nine villages on six islets, with four of the villages located on [[Fongafale]]. They and their populations as of the 2012 census are listed below:<ref name="C2012"/>
The district of Funafuti comprises nine villages on six islets, with four of the villages located on [[Fongafale]]. Many islands only contain one village. Their populations as of the 2012 census are listed below:<ref name="C2012"/>


{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
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Tausoa Lima Falekaupule is the traditional meeting house on Funafuti. ''Tausoalima'' means "hand of friendship" and ''Falekaupule'' means "traditional island meeting hall." There is the [[Funafuti Lagoon Hotel]], and other guesthouses as well as homes, constructed both in the traditional manner, out of palm fronds, and more recently out of cement blocks. The most prominent building on Funafuti atoll is the ''Fētu'ao Lima'' (Morning Star Church) of the [[Church of Tuvalu]].
Tausoa Lima Falekaupule is the traditional meeting house on Funafuti. ''Tausoalima'' means "hand of friendship" and ''Falekaupule'' means "traditional island meeting hall." There is the [[Funafuti Lagoon Hotel]], and other guesthouses as well as homes, constructed both in the traditional manner, out of palm fronds, and more recently out of cement blocks. The most prominent building on Funafuti atoll is the ''Fētu'ao Lima'' (Morning Star Church) of the [[Church of Tuvalu]].


Other sites of interest are the remains of Japanese aircraft that crashed on Funafuti during World War II. The airfield was [[History of Tuvalu#The Pacific War and Operation Galvanic|constructed during World War II]]. It was adapted to serve as the [[Funafuti International Airport]], which serves both as the airstrip for the flights from [[Fiji]] as well as providing a place for sporting and other recreational activities.
Other sites of interest are the remains of Japanese aircraft that crashed on Funafuti during World War II. The airfield was [[History of Tuvalu#The Pacific War and Operation Galvanic|constructed during World War II]] by American troops for the [[Pacific War|Pacific Theater]]. After the war, it was adapted to serve as the [[Funafuti International Airport]], which serves both as the airstrip for the flights from [[Fiji]] as well as providing a place for sporting and other recreational activities.
[[File:Main street of Funafuti.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Main street of Funafuti.]]
[[File:Main street of Funafuti.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Main street of Funafuti.]]


A major sporting event is the "Independence Day Sports Festival" held annually at Fongafale on 1 October. The most important sports event within the country is arguably the [[Tuvalu Games]], which are held yearly since 2008, with teams coming to Funafuti from the outer islands to compete in the games.<ref>{{cite web|first = Shuuichi|last = Endou|title = Tuvalu Games 2011|date = 18 May 2011|url = http://www.tuvalu-news.tv/archives/2011/05/tuvalu_game_2011.html|publisher = Tuvalu-News.TV|access-date = 31 October 2012|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121018180008/http://www.tuvalu-news.tv/archives/2011/05/tuvalu_game_2011.html|archive-date = 18 October 2012|url-status = dead}}</ref> [[Football in Tuvalu]] is played at club and national team level. The [[Tuvalu national football team]] trains at the [[Tuvalu Sports Ground]] on Funafuti and competes in the Pacific Games and South Pacific Games.
A major sporting event is the "Independence Day Sports Festival", held annually at Fongafale on 1 October. The most important sports event within the country is arguably the [[Tuvalu Games]], which are held yearly since 2008, with teams coming to Funafuti from the outer islands to compete in the games.<ref>{{cite web|first = Shuuichi|last = Endou|title = Tuvalu Games 2011|date = 18 May 2011|url = http://www.tuvalu-news.tv/archives/2011/05/tuvalu_game_2011.html|publisher = Tuvalu-News.TV|access-date = 31 October 2012|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121018180008/http://www.tuvalu-news.tv/archives/2011/05/tuvalu_game_2011.html|archive-date = 18 October 2012|url-status = dead}}</ref> [[Football in Tuvalu]] is played at club and national team level. The [[Tuvalu national football team]] trains at the [[Tuvalu Sports Ground]] on Funafuti and competes in the Pacific Games and South Pacific Games.


The [[Parliament of Tuvalu]] or ''Palamene o Tuvalu'' is located on Fongafale, together with the offices of the government departments and the government agencies, including the [[Tuvalu Telecommunications Corporation]], [[National Bank of Tuvalu]], [[Postage stamps and postal history of Tuvalu|Tuvalu Philatelic Bureau]], [[Tuvalu Meteorological Service]], [[Tuvalu National Library and Archives]] and the [[Tuvalu Media Corporation|Tuvalu Media Department]] that operates ''Radio Tuvalu''. The [[Law enforcement in Tuvalu|police service]] has its headquarters and the jail on Fongafale. The [[High Court of Tuvalu]] is also located on Fongafale.
The [[Parliament of Tuvalu]] or ''Palamene o Tuvalu'' is located on Fongafale, together with the offices of the government departments and the government agencies, including the [[Tuvalu Telecommunications Corporation]], [[National Bank of Tuvalu]], [[Postage stamps and postal history of Tuvalu|Tuvalu Philatelic Bureau]], [[Tuvalu Meteorological Service]], [[Tuvalu National Library and Archives]] and the [[Tuvalu Media Corporation|Tuvalu Media Department]] that operates ''Radio Tuvalu''. The [[Law enforcement in Tuvalu|police service]] has its headquarters and the jail on Fongafale. The [[High Court of Tuvalu]] is also located on Fongafale.
Line 390: Line 390:
Fongafale has port facilities and two passenger/cargo ships, ''Nivaga III'' and ''Manu Folau'', which make roundtrips between Fongafale and the outer islands about once every three or four weeks, and also travel between [[Suva]], Fiji,<ref>[http://www.shipping.com.fj Fiji shipping agent, Williams & Gosling] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215212740/http://www.shipping.com.fj/ |date=15 December 2018 }}.</ref> and Funafuti about three or four times a year.
Fongafale has port facilities and two passenger/cargo ships, ''Nivaga III'' and ''Manu Folau'', which make roundtrips between Fongafale and the outer islands about once every three or four weeks, and also travel between [[Suva]], Fiji,<ref>[http://www.shipping.com.fj Fiji shipping agent, Williams & Gosling] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215212740/http://www.shipping.com.fj/ |date=15 December 2018 }}.</ref> and Funafuti about three or four times a year.


In 2015 the Japanese government donated a ship, the ''Nivaga III'', to Tuvalu, to replace the ''Nivaga II'', which had served Tuvalu since 1989.<ref name="FSO0316">{{cite web | last =Moceituba | first =Atasa | title =Brand-new vessel for Tuvalu | work =The Fiji Times | date =3 February 2016 | url =http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=340189 | access-date =17 March 2016 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20160324094852/http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=340189 | archive-date =24 March 2016 | url-status =dead }}</ref>
In 2015 the Japanese government donated the ''Nivaga III'', to Tuvalu, to replace the ''Nivaga II'', which had served Tuvalu since 1989.<ref name="FSO0316">{{cite web | last =Moceituba | first =Atasa | title =Brand-new vessel for Tuvalu | work =The Fiji Times | date =3 February 2016 | url =http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=340189 | access-date =17 March 2016 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20160324094852/http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=340189 | archive-date =24 March 2016 | url-status =dead }}</ref>


==Politics==
==Politics==

Revision as of 16:31, 8 September 2024

Funafuti
Atoll
Top: International Airport; Middle: Fetu Ao Lima (Morning Star Church); Bottom: Funafuti coastline
Flag of Funafuti
Flag
Aerial image of Funafuti atoll
Aerial image of Funafuti atoll
Map of the atoll
Map of the atoll
Funafuti is located in Tuvalu
Funafuti
Funafuti
Location of Funafuti atoll in Tuvalu
Coordinates: 08°31′S 179°12′E / 8.517°S 179.200°E / -8.517; 179.200
CountryTuvalu
Government
 • Parliament representativesTuafafa Latasi, Simon Kofe
Area
 • Total2.4 km2 (0.9 sq mi)
Population
 (2017)
 • Total6,320
 • Density2,600/km2 (6,800/sq mi)
ISO 3166 codeTV-FUN

Funafuti is an atoll, comprising numerous islets, that serves as the capital of Tuvalu.[1][2] As of the 2017 census, it has a population of 6,320 people.[3] More people live in Funafuti than the rest of Tuvalu combined, with it containing approximately 60% of the nation's population. The main islet, Fongafale, hosts Vaiaku, the administrative center of the nation.

Funafuti was first sighted by Europeans in 1819 by Arent Schuyler de Peyster, an American sea captain, who named it Ellice's Island. Between 1850 to 1875, Funafati, with its navigable lagoon, was targeted by blackbirders who kidnapped natives to work at mines off the coast of Peru and Chile.[4] In 1892, each of the Ellice Islands was declared a British protectorate by Captain Herbert Gibson of HMS Curacoa. In 1909, the first resident magistrate was appointed to Funafuti; in 1915, Funafuti, along with the rest of the Ellice Islands, were incorporated into the Gilbert and Ellice Islands as a crown colony.[4] In October 1942, during World War II, Funafuti was occupied by American forces to serve as a strategic staging ground for the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign.[5] Over the course of the war, the Americans dredged Funafuti's lagoon harbor and established the atoll's airfield, now known as Funafuti International Airport. In October 1972, Cyclone Bebe struck Funafuti, causing extensive damage; despite this Funafuti was chosen as the administrative capital of the newly founded nation of Tuvalu in 1978. As the capital of Tuvalu, Funafuti is by far the most urbanized atoll in the country, and is the hub of governmental, administrative, and economic activities.[6]

The atoll consists of a narrow sweep of land between 20 and 400 metres (66 and 1,312 feet) wide, encircling a large lagoon (Te Namo) 18 km (11 miles) long and 14 km (9 miles) wide. The average depth of the Funafuti lagoon is about 20 fathoms (120 ft; 37 m).[7] With a surface area of 275 square kilometres (106.2 sq mi), it is by far the largest lagoon in Tuvalu. The land area of the 33 islets around the atoll of Funafuti totals 2.4 square kilometres (0.9 sq mi); taken together, they constitute less than one percent of the total area of the atoll.

Much of Funafuti is less than one meter above sea level, making it highly susceptible to flooding Projections indicate that by 2050, around half of the land area of Funafuti could be submerged during high tides as a result of rising sea levels, and by 2100, as much as 95% of the land may be flooded regularly​.[8]

The capital of Tuvalu is sometimes said to be Fongafale or Vaiaku, but, officially, the entire atoll of Funafuti is its capital,[9] since it has a single government that is responsible for the whole atoll.

History

1900, Woman on Funafuti, Tuvalu, then known as Ellice Islands
Woman on Funafuti; photo by Harry Clifford Fassett (1900), American photographer

The oral history of Funafuti maintains that its founding ancestor came from the Samoan Islands.[10][11][12] The name Funafati is derived from the word "Funa", which means "chief" in Samoan. Furthermore, the name of one of the islets, Funafala, means "the pandanus of Funa."[13]

Arent Schuyler de Peyster, captain of the armed brigantine privateer vessel Rebecca, was one of the first recorded non-Polynesian visitors to Funafuti. His vessel sailed under British colors, and in May 1819, de Peyster passed through the southern waters of Tuvalu and sighted Funafuti.[14][15] He named it Ellice Island, after Edward Ellice, an English politician and member of parliament for Coventry.[16]

In 1841, the United States Exploring Expedition, led by Charles Wilkes, visited Funafuti.[17] The United States claimed Funafuti, along with based on the 1856 Guano Islands Act, and maintained this claim until 1983, when a treaty of friendship, concluded in 1979, went into effect.

In 1841, the United States Exploring Expedition, led by Charles Wilkes, visited Funafuti. The United States later claimed Funafuti, along with several other islands in Tuvalu, under the 1856 Guano Islands Act. The U.S. maintained these claims until 1983, when a treaty of friendship, signed in 1979, went into effect.

In the 1850s, John (Jack) O'Brien became the first European to settle in Tuvalu. He became a trader on Funafuti and married Salai, the daughter of Funafuti's paramount chief;[18] with his family name continuing on Funafuti.[19] Alfred Restieaux, a native of England, lived and worked as a trader on Funafuti from July 1881 until about 1888 or 1889.[20][21]

In 1882, members of the US Fish Commission visited Funafuti on the USFC Albatross to investigate the formation of coral reefs on Pacific atolls. During that visit, Harry Clifford Fassett, the captain's clerk and a photographer, took pictures of people, communities, and scenery in Funafuti.[22]

George Westbrook, a trader based in Funafuti, recorded a tropical cyclone that struck Funafuti on 23–24 December 1883. At the time the cyclone struck, he was the lone inhabitant of Fongafale, Funafuti's largest islet, because Tema, a Samoan missionary, had taken everyone else to Funafala to work on erecting a church. The cyclone destroyed the buildings in Fongafale, including the church and the trading stores belonging to George Westbrook and Alfred Restieaux. Despite this, rebuilding work instantly began at Fongafale.[23][24]

In 1892, Captain Edward Davis of HMS Royalist provided a report describing the traders and trading activities he observed on each of the islands he visited. Davis identified Jack O'Brien as a trader on Funafuti,[25] and O’Brien was also reported to be living on the atoll in 1896.[26]

In 1894 Count Rudolph Festetics de Tolna, his wife Eila (née Haggin), and her daughter Blanche Haggin visited Funafuti aboard the yacht Le Tolna.[27][28] The Count spent several days photographing the men and woman of Funafuti.[29]

The population of Funafuti during the years 1860 to 1900 is estimated to have been between 280[30] and 300 people.[31] The Funafuti Post Office opened around 1911.[32]

During the Pacific War (World War II) the Ellice Islands were used as a base to prepare for the subsequent seaborn attacks on the Gilbert Islands (Kiribati) that were occupied by Japanese forces.[33] The United States Marine Corps 5th Defense Battalion landed on Funafuti on 2 October 1942;[34][35] the operation was kept secret until the Japanese discovered it for themselves on 27 March 1943.[36]

On Funafuti the islanders were shifted to the smaller islets, so as to allow the American forces to build an airfield (now Funafuti International Airport), as well as a 76-bed hospital and the Naval Base Funafuti port facilities on Fongafale islet.[37][38]

Aerial view of Tengako peninsula and Fongafale, Funafuti atoll, looking south
Tengako peninsula, Funafuti atoll, looking south

In June 1996, the Funafuti Conservation Area was established along the western rim of the reef, encompassing six islets.[39] It has an area of 33 square kilometres (13 sq mi), containing 20 per cent of the reef area of Funafuti. The land area of the six islets in the conservation area is 8 ha (20 acres). Below is a list of the islets in the conservation area, in order from north to south, with their estimated areas in hectares:

  • Tepuka Vilivili, 3
  • Fualopa, 2
  • Fuafatu, 0.2
  • Vasafua, 0.5
  • Fuakea, 1.5
  • Tefala, 1

Darwin's Drill

There is a site on Funafuti called Darwin's Drill, where boreholes were drilled in 1896, 1897 and 1898, by the Royal Society of London, as part of a scientific investigation designed to find out whether traces of shallow-water organisms could be found deep down in the coral. It was intended as a test of Charles Darwin's theory of coral atoll formation.[40][41] Professor Sollas, the leader of the 1896 expedition, published a report on the study of the atoll.[42] Professor Edgeworth David of the University of Sydney was a member of the 1896 expedition, and the leader of the 1897 expedition.[43][44] Photographers on the expeditions recorded people, communities and scenes at Funafuti.[45]

In respect of its role in testing the theory, Funafuti atoll was included by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) in its assemblage of 100 'geological heritage sites' around the world in a listing published in October 2022.[46]

Ocean side of Funafuti atoll showing the storm dunes, the highest point on the atoll.

In 1972, Funafuti lay in the path of Cyclone Bebe during the 1972–73 South Pacific cyclone season. Bebe was a pre-season tropical cyclone that hit the Gilbert, Ellice, and Fiji island groups.[47] The cyclone system was first spotted on 20 October. It intensified and grew in size through 22 October. At about 4 p.m. on Saturday the 21st, sea water bubbled through the coral on the airfield and rose to a height of about 5 feet (1.5 m). Cyclone Bebe continued to ravage the area through Sunday 22 October. The Ellice Islands Colony's ship Moanaraoi, which was in the lagoon, survived. However, three tuna boats were wrecked. Waves broke over the atoll. Five people died: two adults and a 3-month-old child were swept away by waves, and two sailors who had been in the wrecked tuna boats were drowned.[48] Cyclone Bebe knocked down 90% of the area's houses and trees. The storm surge created a wall of coral rubble along the ocean side of Fongafale and Funafala that was about 10 miles (16 km) long, and was about 10 feet (3.0 m) to 20 feet (6.1 m) thick at the bottom.[48][49][50][51] The storm surge also destroyed or contaminated the area's sources of fresh drinking water.

Geography

Islands

There are at least 29 islets in the Funafuti atoll.[1] The largest is Fongafale, followed by Funafala. At least three of these islets are inhabited: Fongafale (the main island) in the east, Funafala in the south, and Amatuku in the north.

Villages

Funafuti Lagoon Hotel
Offices of the Tuvalu Telecommunications Corporation

The district of Funafuti comprises nine villages on six islets, with four of the villages located on Fongafale. Many islands only contain one village. Their populations as of the 2012 census are listed below:[3]

Name Population
Islet Village
Amatuku 128
Fongafale Alapi 1,029
Fakaifou 1,158
Senala 1,207
Vaiaku 638
Funafala 50
Lofeagai 627
Tekavatoetoe 650
Teone 570

Lagoon

The Funafuti atoll's lagoon (Te Namo in Tuvaluan) is 24.5 km (151⁄4 miles) long, north to south, and 17.5 km (103⁄4 miles) wide, east to west, and has an area of 275 km2 (106 sq. mi.), making it by far the largest lagoon in the nation of Tuvalu. It is about 52 metres (28 fathoms) deep in some places, but only 6 metres (31⁄4 fathoms) deep in other places (because it has several submerged rocks and reefs along its bottom, some of which are that close the surface). The deepest basin is in the northern part of the lagoon (the maximum recorded depth is 54.7 metres [30 fathoms]), while the southern part of the lagoon has a very narrow, shallow basin.[52] The Funafuti Conservation Area is located 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) across the lagoon from the main island of Fongafale, and is accessed by boat.

Landmarks

Tausoa Lima Falekaupule is the traditional meeting house on Funafuti. Tausoalima means "hand of friendship" and Falekaupule means "traditional island meeting hall." There is the Funafuti Lagoon Hotel, and other guesthouses as well as homes, constructed both in the traditional manner, out of palm fronds, and more recently out of cement blocks. The most prominent building on Funafuti atoll is the Fētu'ao Lima (Morning Star Church) of the Church of Tuvalu.

Other sites of interest are the remains of Japanese aircraft that crashed on Funafuti during World War II. The airfield was constructed during World War II by American troops for the Pacific Theater. After the war, it was adapted to serve as the Funafuti International Airport, which serves both as the airstrip for the flights from Fiji as well as providing a place for sporting and other recreational activities.

Main street of Funafuti.

A major sporting event is the "Independence Day Sports Festival", held annually at Fongafale on 1 October. The most important sports event within the country is arguably the Tuvalu Games, which are held yearly since 2008, with teams coming to Funafuti from the outer islands to compete in the games.[53] Football in Tuvalu is played at club and national team level. The Tuvalu national football team trains at the Tuvalu Sports Ground on Funafuti and competes in the Pacific Games and South Pacific Games.

The Parliament of Tuvalu or Palamene o Tuvalu is located on Fongafale, together with the offices of the government departments and the government agencies, including the Tuvalu Telecommunications Corporation, National Bank of Tuvalu, Tuvalu Philatelic Bureau, Tuvalu Meteorological Service, Tuvalu National Library and Archives and the Tuvalu Media Department that operates Radio Tuvalu. The police service has its headquarters and the jail on Fongafale. The High Court of Tuvalu is also located on Fongafale.

The Princess Margaret Hospital, the only hospital in Tuvalu, is located on Fongafale.

The installed PV capacity in Funafuti in 2020 was 735 kW compared to 1800 kW of diesel (16% penetration).[54]

Climate

Tuvalu Meteorological Service station, Fongafale

Funafuti has a tropical rainforest climate (Köppen climate classification Af). Because it experiences frequent cyclones, it is not considered to have an equatorial climate. It sees an extraordinary amount of rainfall throughout the year, being the fourth-wettest national capital in the world behind Monrovia, Freetown and Conakry. Unlike those West African capitals, Funafuti has no dry season: the town has no month in which less than 200 millimetres (7.9 in) rain falls, and an average of about 3,500 millimetres (140 in) of precipitation annually. As is common in many areas with a tropical rainforest climate, the temperature varies little during the year; average daily temperatures hover around 28 °C (82 °F) year-round.

Climate data for Funafuti
1981–2000 for temperature mean; 1936–2000 for temperature extremes; 1951–1990 for average precipitation; 1947–1990 for average precipitation days; 1961–1990 for average relative humidity; 1978–1990 for mean daily sunshine hours
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 33.8
(92.8) 		34.4
(93.9) 		34.4
(93.9) 		33.2
(91.8) 		33.9
(93.0) 		33.9
(93.0) 		32.8
(91.0) 		32.9
(91.2) 		32.8
(91.0) 		34.4
(93.9) 		33.9
(93.0) 		33.9
(93.0) 		34.4
(93.9)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 30.7
(87.3) 		30.8
(87.4) 		30.6
(87.1) 		31.0
(87.8) 		30.9
(87.6) 		30.6
(87.1) 		30.4
(86.7) 		30.4
(86.7) 		30.7
(87.3) 		31.0
(87.8) 		31.2
(88.2) 		31.0
(87.8) 		30.8
(87.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) 28.2
(82.8) 		28.1
(82.6) 		28.1
(82.6) 		28.2
(82.8) 		28.4
(83.1) 		28.3
(82.9) 		28.1
(82.6) 		28.1
(82.6) 		28.2
(82.8) 		28.2
(82.8) 		28.4
(83.1) 		28.3
(82.9) 		28.2
(82.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 25.5
(77.9) 		25.3
(77.5) 		25.4
(77.7) 		25.7
(78.3) 		25.8
(78.4) 		25.9
(78.6) 		25.7
(78.3) 		25.8
(78.4) 		25.8
(78.4) 		25.7
(78.3) 		25.8
(78.4) 		25.7
(78.3) 		25.8
(78.4)
Record low °C (°F) 22.0
(71.6) 		22.2
(72.0) 		22.8
(73.0) 		23.0
(73.4) 		20.5
(68.9) 		23.0
(73.4) 		21.0
(69.8) 		16.1
(61.0) 		20.0
(68.0) 		21.0
(69.8) 		22.8
(73.0) 		22.8
(73.0) 		16.1
(61.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 413.7
(16.29) 		360.6
(14.20) 		324.3
(12.77) 		255.8
(10.07) 		259.8
(10.23) 		216.6
(8.53) 		253.1
(9.96) 		275.9
(10.86) 		217.5
(8.56) 		266.5
(10.49) 		275.9
(10.86) 		393.9
(15.51) 		3,512.6
(138.29)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 20 19 20 19 18 19 19 18 16 18 17 19 223
Average relative humidity (%) 82 82 82 82 82 82 83 82 81 81 80 81 82
Mean monthly sunshine hours 179.8 161.0 186.0 201.0 195.3 201.0 195.3 220.1 210.0 232.5 189.0 176.7 2,347.7
Mean daily sunshine hours 5.8 5.7 6.0 6.7 6.3 6.7 6.3 7.1 7.0 7.5 6.3 5.7 6.4
Source: Deutscher Wetterdienst[55]

Transportation

Funafuti beach (2013)

Funafuti International Airport (IATA: FUN, ICAO: NGFU) is located on Fongafale.

Fiji Airways, the owner of Fiji Airlines (trading as Fiji Link) operates air transport services three times per week (on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) between Suva and Funafuti. The flights originate in Nadi, and use ATR 72-600 aircraft, which can carry up to 68 passengers.

Fongafale has port facilities and two passenger/cargo ships, Nivaga III and Manu Folau, which make roundtrips between Fongafale and the outer islands about once every three or four weeks, and also travel between Suva, Fiji,[56] and Funafuti about three or four times a year.

In 2015 the Japanese government donated the Nivaga III, to Tuvalu, to replace the Nivaga II, which had served Tuvalu since 1989.[57]

Politics

The Funafuti Falekaupule is the local council, with the Kaupule as the executive of the Falekaupule.[58] On Fongafale, the Funafuti Kaupule is responsible for approvals of the construction of houses or extension to an existing buildings on private land and the Lands Management Committee is the responsible authority in relation to lands leased by Government.[59]

Funafuti is one of the eight constituencies in Tuvalu, and elects two members of parliament. In the 2024 general election, Simon Kofe was re-elected, Tuafafa Latasi was elected, however Kausea Natano was not re-elected to parliament.[60][61]

Funafuti constituency results
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Tuafafa Latasi 351 31.08
Nonpartisan Simon Kofe 348 30.82
Nonpartisan Kausea Natano 331 29.32
Nonpartisan Iosua Samasoni 53 4.70
Nonpartisan Luke Paeniu 37 0.13
Nonpartisan Jack Mataio Taleka 9 0.8

Education

Water storage tanks installed at Fetuvalu High School

Four tertiary institutions on Funafuti offer technical and vocational courses: Tuvalu Maritime Training Institute (TMTI), Tuvalu Atoll Science Technology Training Institute (TASTII), Australian Pacific Training Coalition (APTC) and University of the South Pacific (USP) Extension Centre.[62]

There are two junior schools, the Seventh Day Adventist Primary School and Nauti Primary School, which has a register of more than 900 pupils and is the largest primary school in Tuvalu (45 per cent of the total primary school enrollment).[63]

The Church of Tuvalu operates Fetuvalu Secondary School.[64][65] The University of the South Pacific (USP)[66] Extension Centre on Funafuti operates the Augmented Foundation Programme for sixth form students who pass their Pacific Secondary School Certificate (PSSC) so that the students can enter tertiary education programmes outside of Tuvalu. The Tuvalu Maritime Training Institute (TMTI) is located on Amatuku motu (islet).

Notable people

See also

Further reading

  • Hedley, Charles (1896). "General account of the Atoll of Funafuti" (PDF). Australian Museum Memoir. 3 (2): 1–72. doi:10.3853/j.0067-1967.3.1896.487. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2013. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  • (in English) Kench, Thompson, Ford, Ogawa and McLean (2015). "GSA DATA REPOSITORY 2015184 (Changes in planform characteristics of 29 islands located on Funafuti's atoll rim)" (PDF). The Geological Society of America. Retrieved 22 January 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  • Lambert, Sylvester M. "Young woman, member of the O'Brien family, Funafuti, Tuvalu". Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego. Retrieved 18 November 2017.

References

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