Charming Fanning Island

Posted on Monday, November 23, 2009

Fanning Island is your best chance to see what Hawaii and much of the South Pacific must have been like a century ago. This remote island is home to friendly islanders, truly unspoiled beaches and some excellent diving. The majority of homes are grass huts and you're just as likely to see a wild boar on the beach as you are a sand crab.

Even if the last thing in the world you can imagine doing on this pristine island is shopping, bear in mind that most of the collectibles sold here are one-of-a-kind items handmade with indigenous materials. You'll find grass mats and baskets made from palm tree fronds, bowls made from small shells and knives made from shark's teeth, not to mention the rare Republic of Kirabati stamps coveted by philatelists.