Lata is the provincial capital of Temotu Province, Solomon Islands. As of 2007, it has 553 inhabitants. There are a few rest houses for overnight stays. There is a Post office, Telecom office and numerous stores.
It contains a small air strip with flights to Makira and Honiara. Shipping service is irregular but occasionally transport can be found to Honiara or the outer islands. Outboard canoe travel around the island of Nendo or to the Reef Islands is possible.
Temotu Province's main hospital. Lata Hospital is situated in Lata town.
The only fixed wing service is by Solomon Islands Air. The RAMSI Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands provide their own helicopter flights fortnightly to Lata.
During the ethnic tensions of 2003, there were no issues in Lata, mainly due to being so far away from the Capital, Honiara.
Arguably the most famous former resident of Lata is the Solomon Islander-born Australian model, Casey Pritchard, who grew up between Lata and Melbourne.
Famous quotes containing the words solomon and/or islands:
“Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins, which feed among the lilies.”
—Bible: Hebrew Song of Solomon 4:5.
“we are so many
and many within themselves
travel to far islands but no one
asks for their story....”
—Denise Levertov (b. 1923)