So there are a few solid introductory places I would point you to! One directly related to your mentioning the Solomons, the other the Philippines.

I would say if you are interested in a higher level sketch of how the war impacted the locals in the Solomons I would say pick up Ian W. Tolls, 'Conquering Tide' the second of his 3 books on the Pacific. A central running theme is how the war came and disrupted those who were living there, though often through the view of colonial administrators, as they are the written sources available often.

The other is the US Army's official history chapter on the Philippine Resistance, which by the end included an estimated 250k Filipino's in some way in organized units. Along with other sources such as hold out American forces, and the Moro's fighting sometimes against both sides on Mindanao. Like all of the Army.Mil works it can be dry but has some good info for a first stop.

The resistance was also very effective, heavily disrupting Japanese occupiers even into the urban centers like Manila. And were a source of valuable intelligence to the Allies pre landings and during the campaign to retake the islands.

On a slightly less academic slant you might enjoy this album and accompanying captions if you haven't seen it before. https://imgur.com/a/mOvzk

Put together by a user on WarshipPorn, it details the prewar state, Japanese occupation, and Allied development of Ulithi Atoll. Which from late 1944 to mid 1945 was the primary forward fleet base and anchorage of the USN. With particular attention and wonderful photos showing how the islanders adapted to their changed circumstances.

I actually wrote a response to a question about this before-- though I think I focused more on the role they played in Europe than in the Pacific. Edit: I can't seem to find that exact post, [but I found another one I wrote just very generally covering a couple of different islander experiences during the war.] (https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/451wwx/what_did_the_pacific_islanders_do_in_ww2_when/czv668p/)

Here are some of the classics you might want to take a look at, which vary between ethnographic accounts and collected oral traditions and stories about experiences during the war--

• Keith Camacho, Cultures of Commemoration: The Politics of War, Memory and History in the Mariana Islands.

• Suzanne Falgout, Lin Poyer, Laurence Carucci, Memories of War: Micronesians in Pacific War.

• Lin Poyer, Suzanne Falgout and Laurence Carucci, The Typhoon of War.

• Geoffrey White (ed.), The Big Death: Solomon Islanders Remember World War II.

• Geoffrey White and Lamont Lindstrom (eds.), The Pacific Theater.

Though none of those are very old, here are a few more recent, but possibly harder to find works that provide some insight :

• Bennett, J. A., & Wanhalla, A. (Eds.). (2016). Mothers' darlings of the South Pacific: The children of indigenous women and U.S. servicemen, World War II.

Perhaps companionship is not the role you're looking for, but it is an intriguing legacy of the war--a point of pride or pain depending on the island as well as the nature of the relationship and the nature of its end.

• Dianne M. Strong, Witness to War: Truk Lagoon's Master Diver Kimiuo Aisek

A view from islanders who served the Japanese-- not always by choice, but who were present for the rain of iron that fell on Chuuk lagoon.

• Rodman, Margaret, ed. House-girls Remember: Domestic Workers in Vanuatu.

The last one is not strictly about WW2 experiences, but some of the case-studies or histories within it, do relate to experiences related to the War.