Clement Paligaru: Solomon Islands is more than 2000 kilometres away from Kiribati. But across the Solomons, there are communities of people who were resettled here from Kiribati when their country was still known as the Gilbert Islands.

Rev. Nancy Lokopio - Gilbertese community: There are many Gilbertese communities around Solomon Islands.

Clement Paligaru: They live mainly in the country's northwest, on the island of Gizo in Western Province, and on nearby Babanga. This island consists of round about 300 to 400 people, including children, youth, young people, old women and men.

Clement Paligaru: Babanga was first settled by Gilbertese in the late 1960s. There are many explanations why they left their homeland, Kiribati, a group of atolls which includes Christmas Island.

Kannta Pauro, Gilbertese elder: I cannot tell why we come. Because I'm very small.

Rev. Nancy Lokopio: Oh. They came here because of shortage of land and especially food.

Nagimea Peiaruru - Gilbertese elder: The British atom bomb. You know that don't you? On Christmas Island. When they tested their bomb, atom bomb, the British sent us to the Solomon Islands.

Clement Paligaru: Today this is a young community. Most were born in the Solomons. But culturally they remain Gilbertese.

Rev. Nancy Lokopio: My parents always told me about my culture. Even though I am born in Solomon Island, when they always teach or told me about my culture. I feel part of them. As I am Gilbertese.

Clement Paligaru: Gilbertese make up only one percent of Solomon Islands' population. They're Micronesians, in a country dominated by the indigenous Melanesians.

Rev. Nancy Lokopio: One thing I learn is to respect the elders. Because Solomon islands - they have chief. And we Gilbertese do not have chief. We have only elders. The big building here, we call it the Maneata. And this is where the decision were made by the elders.

Kannta Pauro: This our custom so this our story about Samson. One from man. Muscle man from the bible. You read the bible?

Clement Paligaru: And what language are you singing in? I use Kiribati language

Rev. Nancy Lokopio: I remember one of our cousins from Kiribati. He came. And he told me that our culture and our way of living, no longer be like there. Well I say to him - even though we are living in different country. But one thing that make us one is the culture.