BUTARITARI, October 14, 2026 (BPA NEWS) — Visitors from across the Pacific and representatives of international shipping companies have praised Butaritari Island for its warm hospitality, beautiful scenery, fresh seafood and rich cultural history as it hosts the 12th Annual General Meeting of the Central Pacific Shipping Commission (CPSC).

For many delegates, the meeting has provided their first opportunity to visit Butaritari and experience life on one of Kiribati’s outer islands.

Aymerick Koloilagi, a regional senior adviser from Wallis and Futuna, said the island had made a special impression on his delegation.

“It’s a very special place, and people are very nice, and we feel just like at home,” he said.

Tuvalu’s Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Energy, Communication and Innovation, Simalua Enelee Taliu, praised the island community for working hard to accommodate and feed the visiting delegations.

She said the visitors had enjoyed fresh seafood and a tour showcasing Butaritari’s cultural and historical heritage.

Taliu thanked Kiribati’s Transport minister Alexander Teabo for the opportunity to visit the outer island and commended the people of Butaritari and Kiribati for their efforts in hosting the meeting.

Shipping representatives also shared their positive experiences, highlighting the island’s welcoming people and natural beauty.

Phil Welch, Swire Shipping’s owner’s representative in the Marshall Islands, said the meeting provided an opportunity to understand the grassroots realities of participating countries, despite the long journeys required to reach Butaritari.

“Very happy to be in Butaritari,” he said, adding that the island was “definitely throwing out the welcome mat to all of us.”

Representatives from Ocean Network Express, Neptune Pacific, NYK, Kyowa Shipping and Matson also praised the island’s hospitality, food and scenery.

For Matson representative Rohitesh Kumar, Butaritari’s white sandy beaches, abundant seafood and friendly people made it a place worth returning to for a holiday.

The positive impressions reflect the important role of the CPSC meeting in bringing Pacific island countries and shipping companies together to strengthen cooperation and discuss regional shipping needs.

Beyond the formal discussions, the delegates’ experiences have offered a glimpse of Butaritari’s potential to welcome more visitors while showcasing the hospitality, culture and natural attractions of Kiribati’s outer islands.

Kamoamoaki Butaritari Irouia Bwaaroko

BUTARITARI, October 14, 2026 (BPA NEWS) — A tia bwaaroko man te Betebeke ao taan tei mani kambwana ni kaibuke mai tinainiku ni kamoamoa ana kakairua Butaritari, tararaoin aona, marin taari ao rongorongona ma kateina ni kawai n ana tai n rungaa ao n tewea ana ka-12 ni Bwabwaro te rabwata ae te Central Pacific Shipping Commission (CPSC).

A taku angiia taan tei ke bwaaroko aikai bwa e a tia bwabwaro aio n angania aia tai ni kawara Butaritari ao n nora aron te maiu iaon aba i Kiribati.

E taku te regional senior advisor mai Wallis and Futuna ae Aymarick Koloilagi bwa a tia n rangi n riingaki kain ana tiim n rokoia n te abamwakoro aio.

“Bon te tabo ae e okoro, a rangi n tamaroa kaaina ao titebo ma ti bon mena i abara,” e taku teuaei.

E anga naba ana kamoamoa te Tia Koroboki mai Tuvalu ibukin Mwamwananga, Korakora, Itoman ao Rabakau aika a Boou ae Simalua Enelee Taliu nakoia kain kaawa nako iaon Butaritari ibukin aia mwakuri korakora ibukin kamwengaraoakia ao kamwarakeaia taan iira te bwabwaro aio.

E taku neiei bwa a tia iruwa n rangi n roko nanoia ni kanii main taari aika a boou reirei ao n neweabai man noori katein ao rongorongon Butaritari ni kawai.

E karabwarabwa Taliu nakon ana Minita Kiribati ibukin Mwamwananga ae Alexander Teabo ibukin karekean aia tai ni karoko i aon aba ao ni karabwaia kain Butaritari ao bon kain Kiribati ibukin korakoraia n tewea te bwabwaro aio.

A reke naba aia tai taan tei mani kambwana ni kaibuke mai tinaniku n tibwauai aia nonori ma aia namakin aika a tamaroa ike a katuruturua iai aia kakairua ao momoaomata kain te abamwakoro aio ao tamaroan abaia.

E taku ana tia tei te kambwana ni kaibuke ae te Swire i Mwatiare ae Phil Welch bwa e a tia te bwabwaro aio ni karekea aia tai n noora aron te maiu i buki n aaba ake a ira te bwabwaro aio, e ngae ngke e rangi n abwabwaki kaean Butaritari irouia.

“I rang kukurei n roko i Buitaritari,” e taku teuaei, ao n reitia n taku bwa e a tia Butaritari n “taakina kiena ni butimwaai nakoira ni kabane.”

A anga naba aia kamoamoa taan tei man kambwana ni kaibuke aika te Ocean Network Express, Neptune Pacific, NYK Kyowa Shipping ao Matson n rianakon tamaroan ana kakairua, amwaraken ao tararaoin Butaritari.

N ana nonori te tia tei man te kambwana ni kaibuke ae Matson ae Rohitesh Kumar ao e taku bwa e rangi n taku Butaritari n te manga okiraki ibukin te motirawa ibukin takamainainan bikena, tirauan marina mai taari ao kaaina aika a rangi n iraorao ao n itangitangiri.

Kataratara ma namakin aika a tamaroa aikai bon kaotan kakawakin tibwangan ana bwabwaro te CPSC ni bootiia aban te Betebeke ao kambwana ni kaibuke ibukin kakorakoran ao katamaroan reitakiia ao maroroakinan kainanoia n te kaibuke.

Itinanikun aia bowi ao e a tia tikuia kain te bwabwaro aio ikai n anga te kanikinaa iaon ana konabwai Butaritari ni butimwaaiia riki iruwa ke iabatera ao ni kaota naba te kakairua, katei ao tamaroan abamwakoron Kiribati ake itinanikun Tarawa.