"Fanning Island, Kiribati" a Line Islands Travel Page by vanderlust

We visited Fanning Island as part of our NCL cruise of Hawaii. We spent two days at sea traveling from Kaui to Fanning which is a trip of about 1000 statute miles. Fanning is a coral atoll about 150 miles north of the equator in the Line Island chain of Kiribati (pronounced Keerbas). I had read mixed reviews prior to our journey and some of the cruise passengers decided not to visit the island because of it's lack of "civilization". I wouldn't have missed it. I found the island beautifully unspoiled by the 21st century world. There is no electricity or running water (save the small area run by NCL) on the island and the people were warm and friendly. Obviously missing was the hustle of any other cruise port and the pressure of vendors pushing imported wares for a quick buck. These people are proud of their island and their handmade crafts but they were courteous and graciuos hosts for the day.