Some households are predominately Cheke Holo. Although children from such households will pick up Gao from class mates due to contact at local primary school. School teaching language is largely pidgin, Cheke Holo, but occasionally Gao. There is an impetus to speak Gao because Gao speakers immediately understand and can speak Cheke Holo, whereas the reverse does not hold. Cheke Holo speakers frequently do not feel confident to speak Gao.

Internal to West Gao/Kaloka Ward Gao is used during Church services and there is a published (2008) Common Prayer Book . A translation of the New Testament is underway. Many hymns are also sung in Gao.
It is used mostly in the home, occasionally in village speeches although here again, it competes with Cheke Holo due to the fact some of the chiefs and catechists have Cheke Holo as their first language and lack confidence in Gao.
In feasting ceremonies such as fangamu taego (to feed the caregiver), Gao is frequently the preferred language.