In 1943, the US Allies' major base for PT boats was in Rendova. Solomon Islanders Biuku Gasa and Eroni Kumana paddled their dugout canoe 35 miles (60 km) to reach the base and deliver a message inscribed on a coconut from then-Lieutenant (jg) John F. Kennedy after his PT boat was run down by a Japanese destroyer and he and his crew were stranded on one of the local islands.
