Honiara's Japanese WWII Memorial

Another Pacific island nation to have some significant role in World War II because of it's position in the ocean, and thus, being in the middle of things around the Japanese assault, was the Solomon Islands.

The Japanese War Memorial is up in the hills from Honiara, on Mount Austen, and is tricky to find, but worth the attempt.

When we arrived there, after taking a few wrong turns, we found that it was closed - but managed to catch someone's attention near by, and it was opened for us to go in and have a look.

It's simple, beautiful, and commands such a feeling of peace. No war symbols, no graphic reminders of death and battle. No long list of names.

The plaque on one of the side of the marble structure in the centre speaks of the idea that the upward feature of the standing marble should assist the final journey of the spirits of those lost.