This took place near the famous WW2 "slot" used by the Japanese and American Navies to attack each other. Also near Pappy Boyington's Black Sheep Corsair squadron on Munda.
Lots of WW2 history in these islands.
Yes, going to Guadalcanal was one of my favorite cruises for that reason. We came south from Okinawa, passed through the Bouganville Strait into New Georgia Sound (The Slot) past Savo Island into Ironbottom Sound and anchored off Point Cruz on Guadalcanal. There was still a lot of old, rusted equipment around in 1986. I don't know what's left now in that climate.