Abaiang

Abaiang, also spelled Apaiang, sometimes called Apia, and formerly named Charlotte Island, is a coral atoll of the Kiribati, located in the west-central Pacific Ocean. Abaiang comprises 15 islets (minimum one is inhabited) in the northern Gilberts with a total land area of 6 square miles. The atoll has a lagoon (16 by 5 miles (26 by 8 km)) that provides sheltered anchorage.

Captain Thomas Gilbert was the European discoverer (1788); he named it Charlotte Island, after the owner of his ship, the Charlotte.

The foremost institution of Abaiang is St. Josephs College. The current Principal is The Reverend Sir Paul Chilton, a British migrant. St. Joseph's College was founded in 1939. In the past 65 years it has gone from strength to strength and is now a leading centre for learning in Kiribati. It's alumini include both current President His Excellency Anote Tong, and previous incumbent Teburoro Tito.

In the southwest of Abaiang there is a channel, the Bingham Channel, who is the basic conjunction between the lagoon and the Pacific. The channel is between the biggest island of Abaiang (in the east) and a very little island in the southwest of Abaiang.

There is minimum one hotel on Abaiang: in Taburao you find the Nikuao Hotel.

Towns and villages on Abaiang

All the following places lie on the biggest island of Abaiang:

Aonobuaka – Borotiam – Koinawa – Evena – Morikao – Tabontebike – Taburao – Takarano – Tanimaiaki – Tebanga – Tuarabu – Ubanteman