John Kerry in Honiara

United States Secretary of State John Kerry is expected to discuss climate change and the legacy of World War Two in Solomon Islands this week.

He’s the first Secretary of State to visit the Solomons, and his visit is being seen as a key part of the Obama Administration’s “rebalance” to the Asia-Pacific.

Kerry will attend wreath laying ceremonies at the Guadalcanal American Memorial and Solomon Scouts and Coastwatchers Memorial.

US Ambassador to Solomon Islands, Walter North, says the strong relationship between the two countries dates back to Pacific theatre of World War Two.

“There’s a long history of partnership between the people of the South Pacific and Solomon Islands, and the United States,” he said.

“For Americans, Guadalcanal and the Solomon Islands have an iconic resonance in our historic memory because of the sacrifices that were made here.”

Future-president John F Kennedy served in Solomon Islands during World War Two, where he was rescued by two locals after his patrol boat collided with a Japanese destroyer.

One of the rescuers, Eroni Kumana, died earlier this month, and Ambassador North says those events remain significant to the relationship.

“In the Western part of this country, one of our presidents was rescued – and if he hadn’t been, he’d never have been able to become our president.”

“There’s that historic memory, and that’s the foundation – but we don’t just look to the past, we look to the future.”

Kerry is expected to discuss US assistance in cleaning up unexploded ordinance left over from the conflict.

North says Kerry, who recently hosted the Our Oceans’ conference, is also expected to discuss the impact of climate change on the Pacific Islands.

“Oceans are a particular interest of his – he comes from a coastal community in the United States, and that conference focused on three issues,” he said.

“One was the issue of the huge build up of garbage and trash in the oceans, the second was acidification of coral and the third was trying to deal with illegal fishing.

“Those are all issues that are really important both for the United States and for Solomon Islands and other countries in the Pacific – so I think it’s natural that we would want to have that kind of discussion with a leader in this region.”

Kerry left the United States on August 8 on a six-day trip to Myanmar – where he is to attend ASEAN meetings – Australia, the Solomon Islands and Hawai’i.