My grandfahters and grandmothers were moved from Kiribati to the Phoenix Islands,(orona Island), and then later moved to Solomon Islands, where now we are today... I love visiting the island atolls one day..
my dad was working on Kanton in the early '60s when the FAA operated there, we went for 2 months to visit him [ we flew in there and back to the US a chartered World Airways Connie ] and can remember the sealife and fishing was unreal ! I was a youngster but still remember it clearly, if I had a chance to visit one day I wouldn't hesitate at all, fond memories from then !
Great video. I found the atoll by accident in Google Earth and I was intrigued and so I did some internet search and then that got me here =) I'd love to go there some day... =)
I was born on Canton. Wish I could have spent more of my childhood there. Comparing old home movies to this video, I see that a lot has changed over the years. Much of the old houses that stood when I was a boy are in shambles. Gone is the wreck of the SS Taylor. I'd love to go back, but I don't think it will happen. Best wishes to those who now live there.
Love Canton Island. Made three trips there in 1975 when in the U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps. I was an Ensign in charge of several small construction projects, including the pier and fire station, being built for the USAF-SAMSO missile tracking station. The Commanding Officer had a small pond in his front yard in which he kept his three pet sharks. Several hundred men worked there, with nine women on the island. Needless to say the women were all very popular.
May I offer, with respect, a small correction. The name of the airline mentioned at 02:54 should be Pan American World Airways (Pan Am). I don't mean to be critical, but to the people who lived and labored there it might be important. My father was stationed on Canton/Kanton/Kiribati with Pan Am, and spoke highly of his time there. In his memory I would like to still make a pilgrimage there before my time is up.
"You Can Never Go Home, Anymore" original by "The Shangri-Las. I know not of this version. The second tune sounds like an iteration of an Ennio Morricone track. Very nice travelogue. That must have been quite an interesting and long sailing adventure.
nice clip remember the time to enumerator there in 2000 from Census Office with our supervisor and our ship Tebenebene. addition remember my father and mother go there and mi stay to school.
You failed to mention NASA used this island atoll, for tracking. Mercury / Gemini & Apollo missions. The Base closed in 1975, not 79, 1979 is when the island was turned back to the kiribati government. 1935 Pan AM built the runway. It became a joint airport for the local government and the United states. 1937 Military entered onto the island to prepare for war. 1939.. the US military took over. They used the island atoll to weaken the threat of the Japanese... holes in the hangers were bullet holes. not from rust. You failed to visit the other side of the island because to this day. Kantol Atoll is still partly owned by the United states. No one is allowed to enter onto the NASA base, with out permission from the Kiribati or US government. Kantol Atoll is part of the Phoenix Island Projects..11 atolls in all.. the last being Gardner Island Atoll. All were taken over by the United State in 1937. All these 11 atolls. All the building left are taken over buy the locals. These island atolls will be gone by 2050 under water.. It's a shame isn't it. Kantol each year is sinking.
I appreciate the video footage of this remote location. What isn't explained in this video is how the people make a living. I am pretty sure "god" didn't create all those boxes of supplies. 61 people lived here in 2000 and now there is around 41 to include children. It seems a pretty rough area to live, cut off from the rest of the world. While it is portrayed as peaceful, social, and loving - it wouldn't be to most of my family members. Kirbati opposes anyone LGBT.
