Hi Paul

Truth is I can't answer that many of your questions, I haven't been back to Tuvalu since I lived on Vaitupu as a boy between about 1978 and 1983. I have fantastic memories of the place though and have often thought of going back to visit.

1. Sorry don't know
2. You're quite right about Fish, after 5 years I felt I could never look at another fish, but they do have pigs chickens and a number of local crops, Breadfruit, Pulaka and Louloo (not sure if these spellings are correct, or even of the english translation)
3. When I was there electricity was available on Funafuti and on the School compound at Motofuoa on Vaitupu (albeit only in the evenings). Not sure about the other Islands, I've been to them all, but I was only young. All may have changed by now though.
4. Fresh water was indeed scarce. In 1978 most people kept old 45 gallon oil drums and similar for catching rain water. Can't answer on desalination and again all may have changed since then.
5.Population was largely centred in villages with a few people living in more isolated settlements around the islands. People that wanted jobs would often look beyond Tuvalu altogether but more were to be had on Funafuti
6. Don't know about now, but I remember my dad being summoned to Vaitupu court house and being lectured for riding his push bike after dark without a light. If only life was that simple now eh?
7. The tuvaluan islands are coral atolls whereas I think many pacific islands are volcanic. Tuvalu is rarely more than a metre above sea level so any rise in sea level would affect the fresh water table and would therefor I expect be catastrophic for crops and plant growth
8. I think Tuvalu is a beautiful colony of Pacific islands and would love to go back. However my experience of most tourists has suggested that whilst they like remoteness and empty beaches etc, they like to turn on their Air conditioning in their hotel room or hire car, whilst Funafuti does have Vaiku Lagi hotel and there may be some guest houses, I'm not sure the outer islands can offer much.
9. In the late 70's and early 80's there was a Grumman Goose Flying boat of 1940's vintage that was restored and funded by (I think) the british government. It was called Sea bee Air and I have great memories of taking off from Funafuti grass strip and landing on Vaitupu's Lagoon. Sadly however funding was withdrawn, leaving only the the 1962 Hong Kong built M.V. Nivanga to travel between islands. I believe this was sold in the late 80's and replaced with Nivaga II. Travel on this is likely to be similar: - Unpredictable / unreliable schedules but an exciting adventure on its own!
10. No idea sorry, but I vaguely remember something similar on Nanumea that was definetely never gonna be a runway again
11. Check out this link for limited info http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/91642.html

Hope this helps, got anymore questions you can drop me a line, my mother has an impeccable memory of it all and unlike me who used to speak Tuvaluan fluently, she still can
Scott