Abemama (also Abamama, Apamama, Dundas, Hopper Island, Roger Simpson Island or Simpson Island) is an atoll in the central part of the Kiribati (Gilberts) Group located 152 kilometres southeast of Tarawa and just north of the Equator.
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It has an area of 16 square kilometres and an estimated population of 3,608. The islets surround a deep lagoon. The eastern part of the atoll of Abemama is linked together by causeways making automobile traffic possible between the different islets. The outlying islands of Abatiku and Bike are situated on the southwestern side of the atoll.
The village of Kariatebike serves as the government center for the atoll which includes an administration building, the police station and a hospital.
During the 19th century the Gilbert Islands ruling family had its seat on Ademama.[1]
Abemama is known as the island where the Declaration of a British Protectorate was first proclaimed oby Captain Davis of HMS Royalist (1883) on 27 May 1892.
Robert Louis Stevenson, Fanny Vandegrift Stevenson and her son Lloyd Osbourne spent 2 months on Abemama in 1889. Near Tabontebike is the tomb of tyrant-chief Tem Binoka, who was immortalized by Stevenson in his account of the 1889 voyage of the Equator published as "In the South Seas"[2] Robert Louis Stevenson, Fanny Vandegrift Stevenson and Lloyd Osbourne returned to Abemama in July 1890 during their cruise on the trading steamer the Janet Nicoll.[3]
During World War II the American submarine USS Nautilus landed a force of 78 U.S. Marine Corps Amphibious Reconnaissance Scouts with Australian Army Lt George Hand formerly of the Ocean Island Defence Force acting as an interpreter [4] to seize the island on 21 November 1943. On the morning of 25 November, a native reported to the Marines that the remaining Japanese committed suicide.[5]
Abemama was formerly known as Roger Simpson Island.[6]
| Binoinano |
| Kabangaki |
| Tabiang |
| Tabonua |
| Tebana |
Abemama Atoll Airport is located on the north end of Abemama near the village of Tabiang. It has regular connections with the international airport in Tarawa four times weekly.
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