Before the big fights over the nickel deposits on San Jorge Island in Isabel Province by the Japanese giant Sumitomo Smelting Company and minnow Axiom Company of Australia last year, and slightly before that, many of us knew very little about this island.

And we all know the outcome of the court battles over whoíll extract the mineral.

But for the people of Isabel Province, San Jorge is the afterlife for the spirits of dead relatives.

That is where the spirits of loved ones go to live and continue to take care of the well being of living relatives.

In fact, most of our Provinces believe there is such a place.

For example, on Guadalcanal, it is the Marapa Island in the Marau Sound area of southeast Guadalcanal.

On Makira-Ulawa, it is the Malau Lalo or Marau Raro – the middle island – of the Three Sisters ñ the small group between Makira mainland and Ulawa to the north.

For Malaitans, it is the Ramos Island in north Malaita.

For Temotu, it is the Tinakula Island.

For the western Province it is the Borokua or Mary Island and so on.

For San Jorge, and the rest of the islands mentioned, the belief it is the place of the ëspiritsí had made people leave it largely alone for so many years until the Isabel Province through the government acquired a site on the western side for the former Area Council in the 80s.

However, when the government decided to do away with the Area Council concept some years ago, the land was left vacant for a good number of years.

But in 2003, a man who had a lot of experiences in running a business, saw an opportunity and grabbed it.

Gilbert Leamana of the Kolomola region of Hograno district in the southern highlands of Isabel Province, who had started a Kolomola Cooperative in the 70s; built a Kolomola store at the Kaevanga port and pursued what is Varivao Holdings Ltd today until it materialized, decided he had had enough sleepless nights and stress and wanted to go home and relax.

In 2003 he applied to the Isabel Government of Premier James Habu and was given the endorsement to build a small resort there.

ìAfter we sorted the application and I met all the criteria, I began to brush the areaÖ then planted some food like kumara, kaibia and bananas ñ food first before I started building was foremost in my mind. After I made the garden and planted what I wanted, I decided to go visit the Maravagi resort on nearby Gela Island as well as Gizo in the Western Province on a look and learn trip,î he said.

After the visits, Leamana said he went back to Kaolo and looked for a water source which heíd struggled to find.

But closer and more thorough investigations he located a spring which was the main source for the creek that covered the area.

Eventually, with the help of many people, he managed to dam the spring which then became the source of water for the proposed set up.

As for the road, Leamana said he secured agreement from the Guguha High School authority, near Buala, to buy left over culvert slabs, transported them to San Jorge and used to pave it.

ìIt was hard work but with the help of hired students from Muana School, I was able to connect pipes from the source to a 17-meter high ridge into which we pump water for the resort to this day,î he added.

They opened the Kaolo Sunset Lodge in 2006.

ìAt the start, not many people knew about the place. Only people in the Province – divisions there and the Isabel Diocese – came and used it for meetings and so on. But after a year, it became popular because we linked up with the Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau to promote it. By 2013, around 8000 visitors graced our humble place,î he smiled.

Leamana also revealed that the government had at the time agreed to build an airstrip on the island.

ìThe Permanent Secretary of Aviation at the time had promised us that by the end of 2012 the airstrip should be complete. But I donít know what happened. I donít know when this will come ñ but infrastructure will surely help us secure an alternative source of income for the economy,î he stressed.

Although he didnít elaborate on the impacts of bauxite mining on the island, he said he would only talk about his piece of land as the issue of big developments was really up to the Province and the government.

ìThey are the bosses of our resources. I could only talk about my land. Tourism, in my view, should be the priority ñ mining yes, but may be later. But for the operation to intrude into my land is a big no! I strongly feel that there are other areas to create money for the country because our population is growing too, so look at sustainable industries which could preserve good resources today for our future generations,î he emphasised.

For others interested to venture into tourism, Leamana said they should build resorts to help our environment.

ìThe environment is created by our creator. Letís not forget that what we have around us was created by someone, weíre not here by accident,î he pursed his lips.

Leamana is also perhaps the only one who was successful in winning a court case against a logging company.

This was in 2012 when a company trespassed into his land and he took action.

The many tubi (a prohibited species ñ only allowed for scientific research – found only on Isabel and parts of Choiseul Province) trees they cut for export were held up by the High Court.

Just last week however, Leamana told me most of the logs were exported illegally and the company only paid him half of the amount of money (he didnít say) and the other half by the local counterparts as the high court had ordered but hadnít yet happen.

Nevertheless, he said, he still hopes that money would get to him eventually.

ìIf not, I wish to thank my lawyer for his honesty in helping me win that landmark case. And I am very content running my Kaolo Sunset Resort. This is more relaxing for me,î he stressed and managed a smile.

His resort is set to benefit more as the nickel mining on the island by Axiom starts full operations.

The Kaolo Sunset Resort is accessible by two weekly trips ñ Monday and Wednesday – by MV Isabella or Estrella – owned and operated by the Isabel Shipping Company or by air to Buala then outboard motor – a trip that could take more than three to four hours ñ for more adventurous visitors.

Details of the Kaolo Sunset Resort are available at the Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau website.