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Opening

Drop by and
say hello

A Milestone On The Journey Ahead

The official opening of the Museum Project Development Office in Luganville marked an important step forward for the South Pacific WWII Museum.

Located on the north-east corner of Unity Park—where the museum will eventually stand—the office was created from a renovated building by Santo Hardware. The space was generously made available through the Acting Director General of the Ministry of Justice and Community Services, Mr Pacco Siri.

The day’s events began with a moment of reflection, marking the 75th anniversary of the sinking of the SS President Coolidge and the loss of Captain Elwood J. Euart.

A memorial service was held at the Euart site, followed by a wreath laying attended by representatives including the United States Embassy, the Government of Vanuatu, and the Museum’s founding team.

Wreath-laying ceremony at Captain Elwood J. Elwart memorial
Officials at a museum opening in a tropical setting
Police officer in uniform with American flag detail at a memorial service

From Memorial to Museum

From remembrance, the day moved forward.

Guests travelled to Santo International Airport for the opening of a special exhibit showcasing WWII aircraft parts recovered from the island. Designed to capture the attention of arriving visitors, the display provides an immediate connection to Santo’s wartime past and raises awareness of the museum project.

The Museum Association extends its thanks to Airports Vanuatu Limited for their support and for providing space for this important installation.

Man gestures at Grumman F6F Hellcat display at South Pacific WWII Museum, Vanuatu

opening the doors

With the morning’s commemorations complete, dignitaries, board members, and members of the public gathered at Unity Park for the official opening of the Museum Project Development Office.

More than 100 guests attended, including community leaders, government representatives, and long-time supporters of the project.

In his address, Minister for Lands Ralph Regenvanu highlighted the importance of preserving Vanuatu’s wartime history and the role the museum will play in sharing it with future generations. He also spoke of the broader vision for Luganville’s waterfront, with the museum set to become a key part of its redevelopment.

The opening of the office marked more than a ceremony—it signalled real progress.

Elders in traditional attire at a museum opening ceremony.
Man in a light blue shirt holding papers at a museum opening event.

Looking Ahead

With the Development Office now in place, the focus turns to the next stage: securing the funding needed to bring the museum itself to life.

“We’ve got quite a way to go yet,” said Founding Chairman Bradley Wood. “But this is a clear sign we’re moving in the right direction.”

Support for the project continues to grow, both locally and internationally, with strong interest from across the Pacific and beyond. With a dedicated team and growing momentum, the path forward is becoming clearer.

Two people hold coconut cups at a museum opening event.
Four men toast with coconuts at a museum opening in Papua New Guinea.
Four men holding coconut bowls at a museum opening event.
Group at museum opening poses with stone marker.
Group at museum opening with stone marker
Elderly man in hat gives thumbs up at museum opening with artifact
Group celebrates museum opening with a man seated on a stone.
Group at museum opening inspects stone monument outdoors.
Group of people walking outdoors, possibly attending a museum opening event.
Woman with lei greets elders at museum opening
Elderly couple in leis at museum opening with historical artifacts and map
Elderly man in lei greets visitor at museum opening
Elderly man with lei and museum visitor at opening
Welcome sign at museum opening event with people viewing exhibits
Ribbon cutting ceremony at a museum opening with diverse group
Five people cutting a ribbon at a museum opening ceremony
South Pacific WWII Museum opening ceremony: dignitaries cut ribbon
Elders and dignitaries celebrate a museum opening with leis and decorations.
Ribbon cutting ceremony at museum opening with lei decorations.
Elderly man in glasses speaking at a museum opening, decorated with palm fronds.
People gathered at a museum opening in a tropical setting.
Man in a light blue shirt holding papers at a museum opening event.
Group of people attending a museum opening event
Man in blue striped shirt speaks at museum opening event.
Group photo at South Pacific WWII Museum opening, Project Development Office
Group of people at a museum opening event.
Man speaks at museum opening ceremony, group of people listen
Ribbon cutting ceremony at museum opening with man speaking and woman holding mic
Elders in traditional attire at a museum opening ceremony.
Vanuatu Laelsiok Sekta Policy Launch at museum opening event
Man at museum opening reads from a clipboard, with red ribbon and palm decorations.
Elderly man in lei receives handshake at museum opening
Elderly man with lei receives hug at museum opening event
South Pacific WWII Museum project development office sign with American flag
South Pacific WWII Museum Project Development Office banner with floral decorations.
People gathered under a tent for a museum opening event.
Museum display: antique rifle, pistol, and mortar shell
Naval bomb display at museum opening, featuring a 500-pound bomb.
Museum display features a bomb and architectural renderings for a new museum opening.
South Pacific WWII Museum interior with displays and welcome sign.
Museum exhibit with site map, renderings, and bomb artifact
Museum exhibit with architectural renderings, a bomb, and historical photo.
WWII museum display: military items, food trays, and historical documents
Museum display case with historical artifacts, including knives and goggles.
Man smiles at South Pacific WWII Museum donation box, with museum exhibits behind him.
People at a museum opening in Papua New Guinea
Children in blue shirts at the South Pacific WWII Museum, Vanuatu
Children in blue shirts look at exhibits through a glass window at a museum opening.
Crowd gathers for museum opening, including children in blue shirts.
Man points to Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat display at museum opening
Museum opening: Unveiling a Grumman F-5 Hellcat aircraft at South Pacific Museum.
WWII museum exhibit unveiling in Santo, Vanuatu
Group gathered for a museum opening, with signs visible
South Pacific WWII Museum display with blue curtain covering an exhibit.
Children in blue shirts at a museum opening near the ocean
Four people at a beach event, possibly a museum opening, chatting outdoors.
Group of people, including dignitaries, at a museum opening event on a beach.
Child in straw hat tosses flower wreath into ocean near museum opening.
People of all ages scatter flowers into the ocean at a beach ceremony.
Woman throws flowers into the ocean at a museum opening ceremony
People in Fiji celebrate a museum opening with flower leis on a beach
Children in blue shirts on a beach, possibly celebrating a museum opening.
Man in lei presents framed artwork at museum opening event
Group at museum opening, some wearing leis, on a sandy beach with trees.
Memorial stone for Captain Elwood J. Euart, Oct 26, 1942
Four people in leis stand by a monument during a museum opening event.
Captain Elwood J. Ewart memorial, 1942. People lay wreath.
Woman in lei speaks at museum opening, flags behind her.
Children in blue uniforms at a museum opening event
Elderly man with lei at museum opening
Elders in lei honored at museum opening event
People seated under a tent at a museum opening event
Museum opening ceremony with guests wearing floral leis
Crowd attends outdoor museum opening ceremony under a white tent
Man with lei speaks at museum opening event outdoors
Couple wearing leis at museum opening event
People at museum opening: woman with lei, man with baby in carrier, woman in polka dots
Unveiling Captain Elwood Burt memorial at museum opening
Elderly man and woman with leis and coconuts at museum opening
People in leis chat at a museum opening event
South Pacific WWII Museum opening with flags and signage.
Wreath-laying ceremony at Captain Elwood J. Elwart memorial
Crowd gathered for a museum opening event, seated and standing.
Man speaking at museum opening event, decorated with palm fronds.
South Pacific WWII Museum interior with "Welcome" banner and artifacts.
South Pacific WWII Museum entrance with flags and signage
Police officer in uniform with American flag detail at a memorial service
Officials at a museum opening in a tropical setting
Group at South Pacific WWII Museum opening ceremony
Elders in traditional attire clapping at a museum opening event.
Man gestures at Grumman F6F Hellcat display at South Pacific WWII Museum, Vanuatu

Enjoy Our Opening

All photographs on this page were taken by Luganville photographer Patrick Dancel.

Click on the image to explore the full gallery and see more from the day’s events.