Bonegi Beach & Betikama

I've got a couple of days spare in Honiara on either side of a conference in August. Not really enough time to get out of town so thinking about visiting old haunts. Can anyone tell me what the access to Bonegi is like at the moment? Would I be mad to risk my deposit on a rental Rav 4? Also, I can't remember if the Betikama carving school shop is open on a Sunday...?

Any other tips on what is going on around town on weekends in August, for someone who hasn't visited in around five years?

Tanggiu tumus.

As I haven't been back to Honiara since 2002 so I'm not much help, but I have heard that Bonegi is getting rough and some locals won't go there anymore. Don't know which Bonegi, 1 or 2, or maybe both of them. I would think the Betikama shop would be open on Sundays as it's SDA and they mainly worship on Saturday. But then I haven't been back for such a long time I expect things have changed drastically. I wouldn't recognise Honiara or Auki now, they have changed so much.

The West road on Guadacanal is in amazingly good condition now - tar sealed as far as Tambea and new high bridges. There are now several beaches where you can pay a small fee to swim (not just Tambea). Guadacanal Province is developing provincial headquarters at Doma (althugh it is still mostly in the planning stages.
Last year, I rented a Rav 4 from Ela Motors, who now have the Avis franchise. Definitely worthwhile, and good service. Betikama can be unpredictable - we went there on a weekday, and no-one was around.

Thanks very much for this advice. Any recommendations on which beaches might be best to visit as an alternative to Bonegi?

I have not visited ay of the new ones, just driven past on my way to the north west.