Solomon Star said the government decided to accord Balekana a state funeral to honor his service to the country.
Balekana died last week at his Henderson home, east of Honiara. He was 79. He will be affectionately remembered in Solomon Islands as the composer of the country’s national anthem.
Balekana left Fiji in 1953 to work as a government mechanic and never returned home.
He retired from the civil service in 1988 and became the director the local soft-drink producer Szetu Enterprise.
Governor General Sir Nathaniel Waena, government ministers and other dignitaries were among dignitaries who paid their respects on Monday.
