Untouched Pacific

until now

The following pages may open a few eyes as to what is going on in the way of Pacific land development. The picture, depending on your point of view, is frightening or exciting: Certainly the rate of land development for hotels and suchlike has spiralled—and the peak isn't yet in sight.

This picture shows a section of Vavau Harbour in Tonga, with jetty and a portion of the township of Neiafu. On page 65 we carry a report that this little township, during the next few years of intense development, should rival Nuku alofa as a tourist attraction. Picture by

Rob Wright.

This is Hog Harbour village near the re-christened Lokalee Beach, in the New Hebrides. The land near here has been sub-divided and sold, mainly to Americans, for speculation (see opposite page). Many people are concerned that a flood of Americans, expatriates or businessmen, will come to live there and spoil the life of the island and its political balance.

Photo by Ted Marriott.

Here, the beautiful site of the Islander Hotel to be built on the Fijian island of Nanuya Levu in the Yasawas (see p. 67).

Fronting the fine, white beach will be the first 20 units of the hotel, which will eventually be built up to 50 units. The first stage of the work alone involves the building of a 1½ mile road and the filling in of 7,000 cubic feet of tidal land. Photo by Tony Wilkinson.