Pedzisa mutsara unotevera: Chitsuwa cheTarawa chinokosha mungano netsika zveKiribati, asi upenyu hwepaSouth Tarawa hwakanga hwakasiyana zvishoma nehwepazvimwe zvitsuwa isati yasarudzwa muna 1895 kuti ive muzinda wehurumende yekoloni yeProtectorate yeGilbert neEllice Islands. Kubva muna 1906 kusvika muna 1942, Ocean Island ndiyo yaiva dzimbahwe rekoloni yacho, uye pashure pacho Funafuti nemhaka yehurumende yeJapan.
Kupinda kweJapan muGilbert Islands kusvikira muna 1946, apo yakadzokera kuTarawa.