Largest island in the Florida Island Group, surrounding the island of Tulagi. The Japanese occupied in May 1942, and established a seaplane base at Gavutu.

Haleta
This was the first US Marine Corps landing during the August 7, 1942 attack. Its goal was to provide flank cover to the nearby landing at Blue Beach on Tulagi. The Haleta landing met no resistance. Not a single landing craft of the first wave was able to set its passengers directly ashore. All of them hung up on coral at distances from 30 to well over 100 yards from the beach line, and the assault personnel waded ashore against no opposition, through water initially from waist to armpit deep.

Balava
Site of the American seaplane base, on shore were many large fuel tanks and of shore moorings for PBYs and other seaplanes.

Purvis Bay (Tokio Bay)
Purvis Bay is located to the east of Tulagi. It is unclear weather the name 'Tokio Bay' was applied before the liberation of the island, or afterwards. This area of Florida Island contains was presumable used by the Japanese as a mooring area from April - August 1942, and then by the US Navy. Locals still refer to this area as Tokio Bay.

Kikuzuki (Kikitsku) No. 23
Sunk May 4, 1942. Salvaged by USN and towed to this location

LST 343
Damaged July 18, 1943 and bow section was towed to this location

Watering Point
In 1943, the USN built a water pipe to supply ships with drinking water, it runs from an underground stream inland, to the Watering Hole Cave

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Last Updated
October 6, 2009