Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Honiara The American development of Honiara as an army base and war depot turned Honiara into the new capital for the British Solomon Islands. The Catholic population tripled between 1947 and 1957, from 1000 to 3000. The first Holy Cross Church, built in 1947, was replaced by a much larger structure in 1957. The statues of the Blessed Virgin and St Joseph, which had somehow survived the Japanese air raids of the Battle of Guadalcanal, were positioned outside the 1957 church. These statues were re-positioned once again outside the 1978 cathedral; damage caused by bullets can be easily seen on both.
Honiara Central Market being the Kukum Market). For more information, cf. § Management. The market has its own water frontage at Iron Bottom Sound, in order for boats to be pulled in. As such, fisherman can take their catches straight to the market via a boat ramp, seen as significant symbol of how the freshness of fish is valued by Solomon Islanders. Selling occurs both in the permanently covered building, as well as at its sides. The market offers the cheapest food in Honiara. Some women migrate temporarily to Honiara to sell their products at the market. The market is seen as a