Friendship in Solomon Islands

Friends may keep in touch through regular personal visits, shared work, recreation, sport, worship, mobile phones and social media. In 2019, 44.7% of people aged 12 and above had their own mobile phone. Reported internet uses included social media for 66.0% of users, communication for 62.0% and entertainment for 51.3%. Social-media use was reported at 55.8% in Honiara, compared with 16.3% in Guadalcanal and 13.1% in Western Province, so online friendship depends strongly on location and access. Remote and rural communities may rely more heavily on face-to-face contact and shared community activities. A wantok is a person connected through a shared language, community, region or island. Wantok relationships can provide identity and social support, but they do not automatically mean that two people are friends. Kastom refers to locally grounded ways of living and behaving, and its meaning varies between communities. Family, wantok, church and community obligations may exist alongside a friendship without being the same relationship. There is no friendship-specific national entitlement, duty or registration process identified for Solomon Islands. A friendship remains voluntary: each person can choose contact, expect mutual respect and consent, set boundaries and withdraw. Children and young people also need protection from bullying, online exploitation, unsafe communication, privacy breaches and pressure from a group. Gender, disability and other forms of marginalisation can affect access and participation, even where youth involvement in church and community groups is common. Friendships often begin in schools, church-affiliated youth groups, community youth groups, sports and recreation, music and cultural activities, village events, children’s and youth clubs, or programmes such as Youth@Work. Public and community actors connected with youth and social participation include the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs, the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development, the National Sports Council, provincial and Honiara youth councils, churches, schools, community organisations and civil-society groups. Youth policy commonly covers ages 15 to 34, while about 70% of the population is under 34. There are no nationally standardised friendship fees, durations or access requirements. Costs can arise from mobile credit and data, transport, sports participation or attendance at an event. When a friendship becomes difficult, the people involved usually try direct and informal clarification first. Depending on the situation, a church or community leader, chief or traditional leader may help. The Ministry of Traditional Governance, Peace and Ecclesiastical Affairs supports conflict mediation, reconciliation ceremonies, psychosocial healing and provincial peacebuilding work. The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force can support community problem-solving and mediation for minor matters, while serious harm requires police protection and other appropriate safeguarding. These services are not friendship registration offices and do not create a formal friendship system. Friendship is distinct from a casual acquaintance, a romantic relationship or living together. The practical question is whether the relationship is freely chosen, reciprocal and maintained as a personal non-romantic connection. No official national prevalence or classification data specifically measures friendship in Solomon Islands.