Sanaroa Island

Sanaroa Island is an island, part of D'Entrecasteaux Islands in Papua New Guinea, located east of Fergusson Island in Milne Bay Province, at .

Population

The population of Sanaroa is less than 2000.

Education

Sanaroa has one primary school run by the Catholic Church. Students come from all over Sanaroa, some walking or canoeing 5 km to school. Many of the students have rarely or never left the island, and have little exposure to urban life.

The island's two main religions are the United Church and Catholic Church. In 2007 a Christian Mission Fellowship church was established.

Council areas

Sanaroa's three council areas are Etana, Siawawa and Udaudana.

Islands

Sanaroa is surrounded by a small number of smaller uninhabited islands.These islands are called Dawata, Kaluwana,Aneya and they are inhabited by birds like Pigeons and seagulls and other birds. These birds nest and breed on the islands.

They are gradually being eroded by sea waves and current in and out of the bay.

Language

Sanaroa has a language that has faded or disappeared. The local people call it the K language because the 'k' sound was used frequently.Today there no persons speaking the language.

Life style

The local people live a subsistence-farming life style. The people on the island go fishing and do gardening to feed themselves. The staple foods are yams,sago, fish and bananas.They use canoes, dinghies and other sea-going vessels as transport. There are no trucks, cars, mains power or airports on the island.

Natural events

Sanaroa island is experiencing erosion due to wave action, and some smaller islands appear to be sinking slowly.