BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
The community of Eliote Village buzzed with excitement on August 29, 2025, as it hosted Tolosi Hokutenikeni Women’s Association’s (THWA) official launching program.
This significant event marks a new chapter for the women of the Apuilalamoa tribe, highlighting a powerful, community-driven initiative set to bring holistic development to the region.
Held under the theme “Empowering Women, Enriching Lives”, the event celebrates the formal establishment of a grassroots organisation founded in 2022.
The ceremony was a testament to the strong community support for the association, drawing representatives from various sectors across the southern region of Malaita Province, including those from the Afio substation and Maka.
The event was attended by two parish priests from the Catholic parishes of Rokera and Tarapaina, joining community leaders and people from surrounding rural areas and along the Maramasilke passage.
The launch also saw a strong turnout of both national and provincial leaders, signalling official endorsement of the association’s work.
The guest of honour, the Member of Parliament for Small Malaita Constituency, Rick Nelson Houwenipwela, delivered a keynote address.
He was joined by the Member of Provincial Assembly for Ward 22, Martin Mae, and representatives from the Development Committee for Ward 21.
Their attendance highlights the crucial alignment between local grassroots efforts and broader governmental development goals.
The Tolosi Hokutenikeni Women’s Association operates on four foundational pillars; worship, service, education, and recreation.
The organisation is structured into two zones of rural and urban.
This innovative model is intertwined with the Solomon Islands’ National Development Strategy (NDS) 2016-2035, which aims to improve the social and economic livelihoods of all Solomon Islanders.
The THWA’s four pillars align directly with key NDS objectives, particularly those focused on poverty reduction, social development, and gender equality.
The THWA has already begun implementing a range of activities under each of its core functions, demonstrating a commitment to its mission.
The association’s framework is designed to empower women to lead, organise, and create sustainable change from within their own communities.
The launch is more than just a ceremony; it is a declaration of a powerful, community-led movement, positioned to become a catalyst for lasting, positive development within the Apuilalamoa tribal communities and beyond.
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