FAST FACTS
Number Of Islands: Three: Howland Island to the north, Baker Island to the south. Jarvis Island lies over 1,000 miles to the south east of Baker Island.
Location: Located in
the Central Pacific, the RHB&J lies between 0.48 and 0.13 degrees
North latitude and between
176 degrees, 31 minutes and 176 degrees, 38 minutes West longitude. Baker Island is
approximately a four-hour jet flight from Honolulu, about one half the distance
from Hawaii to Australia. Jarvis Island lies at 0.22 minutes South
latitude, 160 degrees 03 minutes West longitude
Capital: Freelington, Howland Island.
Currency: The currency unit is the U.S. Dollar (US$). Notes are
in denominations of: $1, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 . Coinage is in denominations
of: 1, 5, 10, and 25 Howland Island Cents (U.S. Coinage is also accepted).
Languages: English (official, spoken or understood by 95% of the population as their first or second
language), Gilbertese, Japanese, Marshallese.
Population: Approximately 1,170 permanent residents, with over 1,400 more people visiting the islands each month. The Republic of Howland Baker and Jarvis is the second smallest independent nation in the world, measured by population. Only the Vatican City, with a population of 840, is smaller.
Neighboring Nations: Kiribati (pronounced "Kiribass"), Tuvalu, Fiji, Samoa,The Kingdom of Tonga,
The Republic of the Marshall Islands, Nauru,
The Solomon Islands, Vanuatu,
and Micronesia. Australia and New Zealand both lie approximately 3400 miles to the south and
southwest of the Republic of Howland Baker and Jarvis, respectively.
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Welcome to the Republic of
Howland Baker and Jarvis Tourist Information Page!
We hope that your stay
with us will be enjoyable and that you will take some time to get to know
us. To the left, you'll read some "fast facts" about the geography and
culture of the islands and our people, and below, you can read a
comprehensive "A to Z" listing of tourist information that will make your
stay more fun and easier!
Tourist Information, A to Z:
Accommodations: Three small but modern hotels are available,
and several private residences host visitors for one week or less. (please
write, call or fax for reservations and availability)
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Howland Island Hotel
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P. O. Box 2472
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Freelington, Howland Island,
HBJ Phone: (682) 625-2500 Fax: (682) 625-2555
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Rooms: 27
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Room Rate: US$190.00 Top Floor Rate:
US$250.00
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Notes: These rates are valid
until Oct. 15, 2004. Reservations must be made at least two weeks in
advance.
-
Amenities: Internet-ready, air-conditioned
rooms, room service, Howland Island Cafe open for three
meals a day, complimentary breakfast and laundry service offered.
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Baker Island Airport Hotel
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P.O. Box 1697
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Baker Island, HBJ Phone:
(682) 624-1000 Fax: (682) 624-4000
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Rooms: 18
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Room Rate: US$200.00
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Notes: This
rate is
valid until Oct. 30, 2004. Reservations should be made at least two weeks
in advance.
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Amenities: Air-conditioned rooms, room
service, small restaurant open for
three meals a day, complimentary morning juice and paper.
Rooms are Internet wired.
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Freelington Lodge
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P.O. Box 2984
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Freelington, Howland Island, HBJ
Phone: (682) 625-1087
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Rooms: 17
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Room Rate: US$275.00
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Notes: This rate
is valid year-round. Reservations should be made four weeks in advance.
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Amenities: "The islands' most exclusive
hotel" Concierge service, air-conditioned rooms. Restaurant open for
three meals a day, room service 24/7. Complimentary breakfast and
international paper of your choice, laundry service
free of charge to guests. Rooms have cable TV and
Internet hook-ups. Free transportation to Bakerton Airport.
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Howland Baker and Jarvis Hostel Federation -
Several small homes offer accomodations throughout the year for up to one
week stays, beginning at $75 a night. There are usually several vacancies available.
Please call for more information: (682) 624-1041
Average Air Temperature: 81 degrees Fahrenheit/27 degrees Celsius
Average Water Temperature: 84 degrees Fahrenheit/29 degrees
Celsius.
Airport Facilities:
(see the Howland Baker Jarvis Transportation page)
Bank Hours: Banking hours are set by law from 10am to 6pm, Monday
through Saturday. Visitors remaining on the Islands for more than two days
may set up special Tourist Savings Accounts. See the
Banking and Investments page for more details.
Clothing: The tropical weather of the Howland and Baker Islands
makes light summer clothing (preferably of natural fabrics) most practical,
especially for outdoor activities like sightseeing. Restaurants and nightspots
are not restrictive on the dress code - polo shirts, t-shirts, jeans, slacks,
blouses and skirts, sun dresses and sneakers are acceptable.
Customs Regulations:
-
Drugs: Be warned that mood-altering illicit drugs of any kind are
strictly
forbidden on both Howland and Baker Islands, and may not be imported
in any fashion. The penalty for drug smuggling is a minimum term of 10
years of maximum security confinement and/or a US$5,000 fine for a first
offense. Possession of any amount of any illicit drug (cocaine,
heroin, opium, LSD, ecstasy, canibis/marijuana, and others) constitutes
grounds for permanent banishment from the island, and incarceration until
banishment is carried out by Police authorities. A complete list of banned
substances may be obtained at your local consulate or embassy, but the
rule of thumb is generally: if it's banned anywhere
else in the world, it's banned here as well.
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Duty-Free Items: Personal effects and food preparations not exceeding
$500 in value. Visitors over 21 are allowed to bring in duty-free 100 cigarettes
or 10 cigars or 50 grams of tobacco. Alcohol may not be brought to the
Howland and Baker Islands, but is freely available on both islands to adults
over 21 years of age.
Departure Tax:
As of
July 1, 2001, all tourist departing the Howland and Baker Islands must
pay a $25 departure tax. Those tourists who can show a re-entry ticket to
either island dated within two weeks of the departure are exempt. The fee
is payable by cash, credit or debit card upon arrival at an airport. On
round-trip tickets, the tax will be collected in advance, within
the cost of the tickets.
Electricity: Electricity on Howland and Baker Islands is generated by a small
power plant, supplemented by small generators. They supply 110- volt/60
cycle power.
Holidays:
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1 January - New Year's Day/Sovereignty Day
(1991)
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April - Easter (varies yearly)
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15 June - Constitution Day (1992)
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2 July - Amelia Earhart Day (1937)
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8 December - Memorial Day (1941)
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25 December - Christmas Day
There are other days in which the hours vary, yet these are not
official holidays.
Littering: You will be amazed at how clean the streets and beaches
of the Howland and Baker Islands are, and there are strict laws against
littering on both islands for tourists as well as permanent residents.
Littering of any kind is subject up to a US$500 fine for first offenders,
and up to a US$2,000 fine and mandatory public community service work cleaning
a public place for repeat offenders.
Medical Facilities: There are small but well-equipped hospital
facilities on both Howland and Baker Islands, with doctors on call around
the clock.
Newspapers: The Howland Baker Jarvis Tribune is a daily paper
which publishes Monday through Saturday, with Friday's issue dedicated
to a "Business Wrap-Up". The Islands Community Paper is dedicated
to community issues and events, including some of interest to tourists
information. It is published once weekly on Wednesdays.
Passports and Visas: A visa is not required for U.S., European
and Australian or New Zealand citizens for a stay of up to 14 days. All
visitors are required to have a valid passport and return ticket upon entry
and on their person at all times.
Postal System: Mail is handled by the Howland Baker and Jarvis
Island Post. Federal Express and United Parcel Service have offices
in Freelington, Howland Island.
Restaurants: Restaurants in the Republic of Howland Baker and Jarvis feature
fresh fish in addition to American, Polynesian, and Japanese cuisine. Public
Health regulations are strictly enforced in all restaurants and food stalls.
Smoking
has been banned in all air-conditioned buildings, including restaurants,
by an act of the National Assembly.
Shop Hours: Shop hours vary, although Monday to Saturday from
9am to 6pm are the most common. Some stores stay open as late as 9pm. Bars
and restaurants that serve liquor are permitted to stay open until 1am.
Sunday is a business holiday in the Howland and Baker Islands, and all
shops must remain closed until 5pm, and some shops open for a few hours
after 5pm.
Sightseeing:
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The Amelia Earhart Memorial Light - Built for
Amelia Earhart's famous stopover on Howland Island in 1937, destroyed
by the Japanese, but re-built in the 1940s.
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The Howland Coral Reef - Located on the north,
east and south sides of Howland Island. Groups are organized daily to
show tourists those "just right" scuba spots. (Tours range from
US$40.00. Privately-run boats to deep sea diving areas are available,
starting at US$130.00 per person.)
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The Baker Cemetery - The victims of the
Japanese bombing of the Howland and Baker Islands in December, 1941
are buried in the Baker Island Cemetery, as well as Augustus Freeling
and other early Howland and Baker settlers.
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The Augustus Freeling Monument - In the center
of Freelington, Howland Island stands a monument to the man who bought
two coral islands from the United States government and turned them
into an economic powerhouse in the formerly-remote Pacific Ocean.
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The Museum of Central Pacific Culture - Located on Baker Island, this museum
features a collection of Polynesian artifacts from the nearby Gilbert Islands,
as well as World War II relics from several Pacific islands, and a permanent
display concerning Augustus Freeling. (free of charge)
Telephone Service: 24-hour telephone service is reliable on both
islands via local service and satellite links.
Telephone Numbers:
-
Emergencies: Telephones are rarely needed during emergencies, due to the small
size of the islands, however, you may dial these numbers to be
connected to the proper facilities: Police: 999; Fire and Medical
Emergency: 995
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International Access Code: 111 (before the country code)
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Country Code: 682
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City Codes: City codes not required for the Howland and Baker Islands.
Time: Howland and Baker Islands Standard Time is UTC/GMT +13
hours. That is
13 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.
Tipping:
Tipping is not customary in the Howland and Baker Islands.
Transportation on the Islands: The Howland and Baker Islands
have no motorized vehicles on land, contributing to its legendary "pollution-free"
environment. Bicycles and rickshaw "Cabs" are readily available for reasonable
rentals.
Vaccinations: No vaccinations are required for entry.
Water: It is advisable
to use bottled drinking water when traveling in the Howland and Baker
Islands, which is readily available. Due to the short supply of
drinkable water, please conserve it whenever possible by taking short
showers and by not leaving water taps running.
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