and economic stability of Bikini.
The lack of a protected
harbor and the concomitant inability to load copra abroad
ship and send merchandise ashore have been extremely serious
obstacles to successful resettlement on Kili.
Probable Pattern of Living on Bikini
.
If the former Bikini people are returned to the atoll
they will probably follow much the same pattern of living as
they did before the move.
They will undoubtedly want to live
in the same village areas as before.
located on’ Bikini Island.
center of the atoll.
The main village was
This was the social and economic
Settlements were also located on Eneu,
Nam and some of the other smaller islands.
‘The people will
need houses, copra warehouses, school buildings, churches, and
the like.
The leaders of the community with whom I have
spoken expect that the U.S. Government will provide these
buildings, just as the Rongelap people and the Ellib people
were provided for.
Thia is certainly a reasonable expectation
and should be fulfilled.
Some of the existing buildings,
especially vhose on Eneu, could be repaired and remodeled.
These could be used to house workers during the initial period
of rehabilitation of the island.
They would ve of value to
the community “in the future as well.
I have indicated the
location of the former village sites and dwelling sites onthe
permanently inhabited islands of the atoll in my Bikini Survey
Log.