sulawesi

can't help with any of your queries, but...

'tukan besi' - two words - means expert iron. in other words, a blacksmith.

funny name for an island.

If you're in North Sulawesi, you shouldn't miss the diving/snorkelling in the Manado area. Best I've ever seen.

Adrian

Getting to the heavily populated Tukangbesi Islands is easy by public transport from Buton (Bau bau).
Most travellers aim for Pulau Hoga there. LP has info on this.

OTOH, Taka Bone Rate Marine Park is uninhabited, and requires an expensive charter from Selayar.
LP consistently has errorous info about it, confusing it with the larger, populated island of Bonerate (which IS different!!!).

For info on using Pelni for first timers go to the link on my profile. I have only made 2 short trips so its just a first impression. Not the kind of thing you get from old hands who are used to it.

Pelni 2006 and information for how to go to Tukan Besi.
Is Pak Kasim still active in Bau Bau ?

Lazslo are you sure Taka Bonerate is uninhabited? My hope is to find an improbable passengers or fishing boat going from Selayar to there...

http://www.indonesiatraveling.com/Indonesia%20Travelling%20by%20Sea/pages_sulawesi/taka_bonerate.htm

There are 5.087 local people living in enclave of the national park distributed in 7 islands, namely Latondu ( 834 ), Rajuni kecil ( 1113 ), Rajuni Besar ( 400 ), Tarupa ( 944 ), Jinato ( 1097 ), Pasitallu Tengah ( 679 ), and Pasitallu Timur ( 527 ). Approximately fifty percent is Bajau Ethnic, 45 % is Bugis Ethnic and the remainder comes from Muna, Buton and Palue.

Not 100% sure, but confusion often arises when people mistake Bonerate (a larger, inhabited, unprotected island) for Takabonerate.

As enclaves are actually outside the park, they may be inhabited - good luck!