Central market (other crafts markets?) on weekdays --> questions

Hello. I read SI is unique or has interesting
1. Tapa cloth ... i thought it was unique until read some other Pacific islands have also. But, how are they different?
2. Carved Bowls, some including ivory
3. Fishing lures of interesting designs, and hook part made of tortoise shell
4. Pearls ... only white or some other colours?

1. Any other unique / somewhat unique items in SI?

During the weekday (Monday , Tuesday) where can these be purchased?
Does the Central market have these crafts items on Monday , Tuesday , or only on Saturday and Sunday?

I read

Solomon Islands tapa cloth is not easy to find (lucky me, I got the only one at the now closed art gallery). Tapa cloth is found everywhere in the Pacific, but Solomon Islands tapa is unique.

You can find quite a lot of interesting carvings in the museum gift shop on Mendana Avenue (the main drag) in Honiara. Carved bowls with shell inlay (Solomon Islands inlay is considered to be the most refined in the South Pacific) can be found in most souvenir/craft shops as well as at the museum gift shop. I've not seen these at the central market but as the market has expanded since my last visit they might do so now. There is also the Betikama Adventist College near Burns Creek that is famous for their carvings, especially ngzungzus, a Solomon Islands icon.

A unique souvenir would be a custom shell money belt, but these are large and rather expensive (shell money belts are still used as currency for compensation, marriages, etc). There is a shell money belt bank in Auki in Malaita Province, or was when I was last there. I've also seen shell money exchange rates in the NBSI (National Bank of Solomon Islands) in Honiara, but they are not day-to-day currency. The locals wear shell necklaces and earrings that are small versions of the money belts. Making the shell disks is quite laborious work, I've watched them being made on Malaita Island.

Pearls are possibly available at the Mendana Hotel shop (black pearls from Western Province, I don't know about the others). I don't know about tortoise shell hooks and fishing lures, but I suspect if they are on the market they might be found at any of the above mentioned outlets.

Hope this helps and is not too outdated.

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