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A woman reaching down towards a turtle on a beach.
Saving Sea Turtles Members of KAWAKI gather to say goodbye to the first turtle, Mama Kawaki, named after their organization, Solomon Islands. © Tim Calver

Stories in Papua New Guinea & the Solomon Islands

The KAWAKI Women’s Group: Turtle Advocates

Women from three Solomon Islands communities with the shared vision to protect turtles and the Arnavon Islands.

Historically, hawksbill turtles have faced significant challenges due to human activities such as fishing, habitat degradation and bycatch from commercial fishing. By the early 1990s, the hawksbill population in the Arnavon Islands, along with the fish populations on surrounding reefs, had been severely depleted. Since 1992, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has worked with local communities to protect the Arnavon Islands, home to the largest hawksbill sea turtle rookery in the South Pacific. Conservation efforts on these islands are now a beacon of hope for critically endangered hawksbill turtles and an inspiring example of community-led conservation.

Close-up of a group of turtle hatchlings.
HAWKSBILL HATCHLINGS Moments after hatching, baby hawksbill turtles head towards the ocean in the Arnavon Islands. © Tim Calver
A group of smiling women.
KAWAKI Womens Network in the Solomon Islands © Katherine Cranney
Portrait of Marilyn Gedi.
Marilyn Gedi, KAWAKI founder. KAWAKI was formed with the vision of uniting women around conservation, culture and community to create a better future for their children. © Tim Calver

KAWAKI Founder Receives Award

KAWAKI First Chair and co-founder Marilyn Gedi, from the remote Kia village in Solomon Islands, received an award from Her Majesty the Queen for her efforts around community conservation. Marilyn has inspired women across three communities to unite and celebrate community conservation in the islands through KAWAKI.

The KAWAKI Women's Group

Although men from these communities have been involved in the conservation efforts of the Arnavons for more than 25 years as community rangers, until recently women had little opportunity to be involved. With support from TNC, women from the villages of Katupika, Wagina and Kia established the women’s group KAWAKI. KAWAKI’s vision is to unite women around conservation, culture and community to create a better future for their children. The organization provides lifelong benefits to women and girls through training and skills development and seeks to create opportunities for local people, especially children, to experience nature.

Women in Conservation (2:26) The KAWAKI Women’s Network in the Solomon Islands was born from a love of conservation and concern for the future. These women are protecting the biggest hawksbill sea turtle nest area in the South Pacific.

Community-Led Ecotourism

KAWAKI is now spearheading efforts to develop a small-scale ecotourism venture that will support much-needed sustainable livelihoods, uplift local women and protect the unique natural heritage of these islands for future generations.

The Islands’ sea turtles and beautiful coral reefs are a growing tourist attraction, and both the government and three local communities want to build the Arnavons as a nationally renowned ecotourism and cultural destination. Growing tourism can, in turn, strengthen conservation of the Arnavons and improve livelihoods in local communities. Over the next five years, with significant investment into ecotourism planning, marketing, infrastructure and local capacity building, we are working to support the Arnavon Islands to become an important tourism and education destination for the Solomon Islands that delivers true benefits to the local communities managing it.

Back of a woman wearing a shirt that says "ranger" crouching in the sand.
Solomon Island women rangers Anita Rosta Posala waits as the turtle begins to lay her eggs. © Justine E. Hausheer / TNC
Nine women standing in front of a building.
KAWAKI women at the declaration of of the Arnavons becoming the first first marine national park in the Solomon Islands. © David Jaclin
Solomon Island women rangers Anita Rosta Posala waits as the turtle begins to lay her eggs. © Justine E. Hausheer / TNC
KAWAKI women at the declaration of of the Arnavons becoming the first first marine national park in the Solomon Islands. © David Jaclin

Gender equity is a major focus of TNC’s work in the Arnavons and in the Pacific. Research demonstrates that involving women in natural resource management leads to better outcomes for both communities and the environment. The Arnavons will be the first women’s-led ecotourism venture in the country, and it will provide women and girls access to training and skills development that will have a lasting impact on their lives. 

With your support, TNC will build on our strong relationships with local communities to create a sustainable model for ecotourism in the Arnavons. We can ensure the Arnavons remain a sanctuary for wildlife and a source of pride for the local communities that call these islands home.

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Leatherback turtle swimming in the ocean.

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A tracking device attached to a sea turtle shell.

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A new hatched sea turtle on a pair of hands.

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