The Vilu War Museum is a WWII heritage tourism operation based in West Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. It holds the country’s best collection of large WWII relics including the remains of Japanese and American aircraft and artillery pieces destroyed during the Guadalcanal campaign of 1942–43, which saw several major battles take place on and around Guadalcanal.

In April 2025, the Solomon Islands WWII Heritage Association (SIWHA) applied for a grant on behalf of the Vilu War Museum. With a high number of cruise ship visitors, the Museum needed improved signage to provide guests with clear information and historical insight on the Museum’s park exhibits.

“Thanks to a New Zealand–funded grant from Business Link Pacific, we’ve been able to produce 30 new interpretive signs for the outdoor exhibits — a big step toward improving the visitor experience and preserving these stories for future generations,” the Museum confirmed.

The grant provided for the production, and installation of interpretational signs. Two large overview signs were installed at the entrance, providing visitors with background on the Guadalcanal Campaign and key battles. The remaining signs were linked directly to specific items displayed within the park.

With graphic design completed in-house and sign installation carried out by volunteers from Vilu War Museum and the SIWHA, almost all the grant funding was spent directly on signage production through a local sign maker.

Since installation, the museum owner has reported that visitors now tend to stay longer, and the signage has proven highly useful for both staff and tourists. Staff no longer need to personally guide every visitor through the site, and visitors appear to appreciate the more detailed on-site interpretation. Tour operators have also provided positive feedback and shared photos on social media.

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