Why Guadalcanal's airfield mattered

Guadalcanal mattered because of the intended airfield rather than the island alone. Aircraft based there could make convoy movement through a large stretch of ocean difficult, which made possession of the site consequential even though neither side had originally wanted a long campaign there. The Japanese decision to begin the airfield gave the Allies a reason to seize it. Building one operational facility created the strategic importance that drew both sides into a campaign.