Jarvis Island

The Howland Baker and Jarvis
Tourist Information Page

Sponsored by the Howland Baker and Jarvis Hotel Association

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)
    • Howland Island Hotel
      • P. O. Box 2472
      • Freelington, Howland Island, HBJ    Phone: (682) 625-2500 Fax: (682) 625-2555
      • Rooms: 27
      • Room Rate: US$190.00 Top Floor Rate: US$250.00
      • 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.
    • Baker Island Airport Hotel
      • P.O. Box 1697
      • Baker Island, HBJ    Phone: (682) 624-1000 Fax: (682) 624-4000
      • Rooms: 18
      • Room Rate: US$200.00
      • Notes: This rate is valid until Oct. 30, 2004. Reservations should be made at least two weeks in advance.
      • Amenities: Air-conditioned rooms, room service, small restaurant open for three meals a day, complimentary morning juice and paper. Rooms are Internet wired.
    • Freelington Lodge
      • P.O. Box 2984
      • Freelington, Howland Island, HBJ   Phone: (682) 625-1087
      • Rooms: 17
      • Room Rate: US$275.00
      • Notes:  This rate is valid year-round. Reservations should be made four weeks in advance.
      • 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.
    • 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.
    • 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:

    • 1 January - New Year's Day/Sovereignty Day (1991)
    • April - Easter (varies yearly)
    • 15 June - Constitution Day (1992)
    • 2 July - Amelia Earhart Day (1937)
    • 8 December - Memorial Day (1941)
    • 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:

    • 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.
    • 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.)
    • 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.
    • 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.
    • 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
    • International Access Code: 111 (before the country code)
    • Country Code: 682
    • 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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