| Mbanika Island | |
| Image Map Caption: | Map of Russell Islands showing Mbanika (Banika) Island |
| Pushpin Map: | Solomon Islands |
| Pushpin Label Position: | bottom |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in the Solomon Islands |
| Coordinates: | -9.098°N 159.194°W |
| Location: | South Pacific Ocean |
| Archipelago: | Russell Islands |
| Country Admin Divisions Title: | Province |
| Country Admin Divisions: | Central Province |
| Country1 Largest City Type: | town |
| Country1 Largest City: | Yandina |
Mbanika or Banika[1] is an island in Solomon Islands; it is located in the Central Province and is the second largest of the Russell Islands Group. The principal settlement is Yandina.[2] [3]
As portrayed in the HBO miniseries, The Pacific, episode 4 (Gloucester/Pavuvu/Banika), the American forces used the island—referred to in the show as "Banika"—as a hospital and R&R site, during World War II.
During World War II, the US built three bases on the island: