Evenings & A Weekend in Honiara - Solomon Island

I'm heading to Honiara for a 10 day business trip mid to late May.

I was hoping to get some advice on what to do and where to go in my spare time.

As a female traveler I'm conscience of the risks traveling alone and particularly at night but I certainly don't want to be stuck in my hotel when I'm not working.

I certainly want to make the most of the weekend I have there too!

I'd greatly appreciate any tips or advice on where to go, what to see & do and any generally advice.

I'd also appreciate any advice on getting around, should I hire a car, take taxi's, are scooters or motorbikes available for hire and are they a recommended form of travel? (I'm a full licensed driver / rider).

Looking forward to any practical tips and advice!

Thanks
Nicole

Very few scooters or motor bikes in the entire country, and none for hire. There are several places you can rent a car. Taxis are quite cheap, and it is possible to hire one for the day (but agree about the price before you do this.)
Depending on where you are staying, in the daytime, it is possible to get around cheaply by minibus, the regular local buses.
Most of the big hotels actually have some entertainment on some nights, including cultural dance shows.
If you want to meet other expats, try Saturday breakfast at the Lime Lounge, middle of town near ANZ bank.
You could get a boat to Auki 6 pm Friday and fly back to Honiara Sunday, to get an idea of somewhere outside Guadalcanal. From there you could get as far as the Langa Langa Lagoon on a weekend. Another option is Maravagi Resort on Gela, and they have their own fast boat transport, from beside the Point Cruz Yacht Club. The Yacht club is another place you can go in the evening, generally an expat hangout. There are some night clubs and restaurants, but as a woman I would only go to a night club in a group.
You could also do a dive course on the weekend with one of the dive schools, or go out to Bonegi Beach by taxi for a swim.
Depending on what your business there is, you may get the chance to meet and socialise with locals, which is often the best thing to do.
If you are there on a Sunday, it is worth a trip to St Barnabas Cathedral for the beautiful unaccompanied island singing.
Please feel free to PM me with specific questions.

As for getting around, I'd opt for a local bus/minivan, theu're very inexpensive and can be a fun way to get around. After that, a taxi, but as Ozzigiraffe says, confirn a price before you set off. Also, a trip to Auki via ferry then flying back to Honiara would make for a pleasant weekend. From Auki you could hire a guide to take you to one of the man-made islands in the LangaLanga lagoon.. But maybe Maravagi Resort is more your style ...

This thread from a couple of ears ago also answers some of your questions, for when you are in Honiara. The Aloha is a night club popular with local professionals in their 20s and 30s. It incorporates a Chinese Restaurant.