The area of Arawe Arawe (also known as Arawee, Merkus and Cape Merkus) is an area of Papua New Guinea located south of New Britain about 100 km. of Cape Gloucester. A small port known as Arawe Harbor provides anchorage to the area. There were traces of prehistoric human evidence, notably Lapita, as well as amber insects on several islands. The Battle of Arawe was fought for control of the area during World War II. It is located near the airport of Meselia. Second World War Main article: Battle of Arawe Whereas, prior to the Japanese expansion in the Pacific, Arawe was only a small rocky and rugged base atoll for fisheries control, with the arrival of Japanese troops in southern New Britain, coconut trees were planted on the land and began to erect buildings as a small emergency airfield. On December 15, 1943, US PT units arrived on the island with the intention of distracting the Japanese high command, managing to take the area in several offensives in early 1944. The name that was designated from the allied command was Arawe, while which the Japanese command gave the name of Cape Merkus.
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