A state of funeral will take place for the composer of the Solomon Islands National Anthem, Panapasa Balekana.
Solomon Islands will honour the late Mr. Balekana on Monday in a state funeral.The late Mr. Balekana passed away yesterday after a long illness.
Family and friends gathered at the family home last night in Henderson east of Honiara.
Among visitors to the grieving family was the Solomon Islands Governor General, Sir Nathaniel Waena.
The late Mr. Balekana's daughter will fly over from Fiji tomorrow as her father will be laid to rest in Solomon Islands.
His wife and son with family members reside in Honiara.
Originally from Kandava, Fiji, the late Mr. Balekana came to the Solomon Islands to work as a government mechanic in 1953 and retired in 1988.
The late Mr. Balekana chose to stay in the country and calls Solomon Islands "my home".
He was seventy-nine years old when he died.
He is survived by his wife, son, daughter and five grandchildren.