The book, Being the First, was presented at the New Zealand launch by Solomon Islands honorary consul to New Zealand, Doreen Kuper (far right). She shared a moment at the launch with Elizabeth Kelesi (left) and Tagaloatele Professor Peggy Fairburn-Dunlop, centre). Photo by Del Abcede/PMC.

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Tupouseini Taumoepeau

The first group of Solomon Islands women to write stories about their lives are now sharing them with the world, in a book titled Being The First.

This book has been presented by Solomon Islands honorary consul to New Zealand, Doreen Kuper at a launch at AUT University’s Institute of Public Policy.

The event showcased a slide show from the book launch which was held in Honiara, the capital of the Solomons on International Women’s Day on March 8.

Never before have the stories of Solomon women been told from their own perspective and this book marked the first step. The stories tell of the hardship and barriers 14 courageous women faced during their lives in the Solomons.

Honorary consul Doreen Kuper was glad to say that today “women of the Solomons have broken some of these barriers”.

“Phyllis Taloikwai was one of the role models in the book and she said to me, there will be other great women leaders coming after me – she helped pave the way for Solomon women,” says Kuper.

Kuper also says there has been a change in the roles women play in the Solomon culture, with women now in various positions to make important decisions in their society.

AUT’s founding professor of Pacific studies, Tagaloatele Professor Peggy Fairburn-Dunlop, praised the courage and determination of the women featured in the book.

Co-editor of the book Being the First, Marilyn Waring, celebrates the book's presentation in Auckland. In the foreground is cover designer Isabella Rasch, who is a Pasifika student support adviser at AUT. Del Abcede/PMC.

One of the translators, Elizabeth Kelesi Hallam, says that the treatment of women has certainly changed.

“This book has set a good example for younger women to learn from the challenges these 14 women went through in their lives,” says Hallam.

Guests attending the celebration included members from the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs, Pasifika communities, Institute of Public Policy, AUT staff and the Pacific Media Centre team that contributed to the development and publishing of the book.

Professor Marilyn Waring, who co-edited the book with Dr Alice Aruhe’eta Pollard of the Solomon Islands, paid tribute to the women contributors and the book production team of Del Abcede, Isabella Rasch and Dr David Robie.

Tupouseini Taumoepeau is an AUT University journalism student based at the Pacific Media Centre. This is her first article for Pacific Scoop.

The book is available online at the Pacific Media Centre and at good bookshops.

Solomon Islands women ‘barrier breakers’ tell their stories