town and island in the Solomon Islands, southwestern Pacific Ocean, north of Guadalcanal. The island has a circumference of 3 miles (5 km). The town of Tulagi was the administrative seat (from 1893) of the British Solomon Islands Protectorate until it was destroyed by the Japanese (1942). The capital was subsequently moved to Honiara, a new town built on Guadalcanal. The narrow strait between Tulagi and Florida Island forms a good harbour. Pop. (2000 est.) Tulagi island and adjacent islands, 3,100.