Chapter Eight bd 7 | 0 0 C ation thac had occurred on Kili. Rett te Boban As an interim measure, $95,000 was budgeted to purchase materials for the renovation of the Kilt village. The cose of the overall project was estimated ata san far in excess of three million dollars. the comming. Phe adiamistratton was erther aiaware ot neon combed about che dispute over the Chicttaisbip and officials were clealing: with the community Chronph the wew niqusthate paseo. they dial formerly done with Judas Che PASTE WES EG tang By the time oft my research in the summer months of 1969, much of the enthusiasm that had been generated by cheit proyect status asa Bikar adab, tis prestige as Lokwia’s son, the pron and the Bikinians were displeased with the rehabilitation propeam, SUP pra ed return home had been dissipated, community morale was low, The number of islanders on Kili had increased to 3b; che birth rate rasnained unchecked, and relatives who had Jong been absent were recurning. “The increased population was mote Chan the ts land could support, and the winter months of 1968 69 lad been one of the worst the people had experienced. As in the past, on more than one occasion rough seas had prevented the Landing of cargo. ‘The USDA surplus foods had not been sufficient to tide the community over, the Cooperative’s resources had been ex hausted and it was bankrupt. Once again, before rehef provisions were danded in the spring, the people had been reduced to a dict of immature coconuts. As in earlier years, the Bikinians evoked the “iulk and honey” image of Bikini and reiterated che hardships they had endured on Kili. g&dfeer che much publicized announcement of their return home, they were dismayed that they had to remain on Kili fora few years to come. Many wanted to return to Bikini immediately and have the administration subsisy chem until newly planted trees matused. Those men who were and would be employed in the replanting program were demanding wages higher than those nor ty Cocdewelop tits own base of power and auchoriry third Teas nence patted by his cole in the comoumicy’s relocattons, amd the. he Was Dhow ree eiving (evvent offi vale ws Chet aba, He Auyaist, E969 the firse shipment of seed mats wars tabea to Bihan vd the Bikinis chere bepan the phiotuay: propria det the soperveion ofthe Marshall distited aquiadtaritise t Jevansenps phase of the propram Whos completed ra Ode teabat. the Ade \ mibiGary personnel, and much of cher equipment were withialnawn from the operon, the weekly an service to Kwagalem was tes mitted, and che pPropram Was cuened over co che Prose Veni y. A spectal tepresentative of che district adiunisthatan with exper ence in tropical agriculture Was appotited to supervise the work at Bikion A crew of tweaty three workers from Kalb and a second load of seca nats seved atthe atoll in December. Phase two oof the rehabilttacion has been marked by setter, loyisttaal problems which have impeded the propram, and by che Hikinians’ attempts co yun bathers faancil COMpCHsation aa other concessions from the Auericans, ‘The Brbaniaes’ Pevnnye tanned my concent over the anount of chee macress Pry TCE Wats Nae etbated whea they learned that che displaced) Enewerok people were to tecetve a substantial financial award. Vhe Enewetok poo isfied with the plans for renovating the Kili village. Consistent ple tad renamed on Ujelunp smee then resettlement there aa EOE (sce Chapter Pour). Like che Bikintuns, they bave alwarys stein cd the hope of recuraimg to their homeland, aid they too had ve ministration’s assumption that they would provide the labor to tommof the Bokinians to cheir homeland caused pleat UneSst wurony mally paid co agriculcural laborers. The people were also not sat with the scance they had taken in che past, they rejected the ad rebuild their houses and insisted upon payment for their efforts. The Bikinians, however, were hampered in their efforts co deal with che administration, because of the lack of strong leader ship that Juda had provided, and because of the internal struggles for power which had divided the community into opposing factions. Each of the aspirants to the chieftainship had his own coteric of followers. Neither was supporting the new magistrate, and there was someindication chat one of them was actively at’ ON erie Fry . vier Deeevvdasee tha . eevee he Roe he ‘ eetyrarteas thee rf... Pivessd if b 79 ceived a trast fund as fiancial compensation. ‘Phe Hapendinp te the Enewetok people, and they protested thea comtiimedt lien Gon fiom Enewetok. tian effort te pacthy thet, “airdisc hosed agencies” of the United States goverment provided Chem wath AeN gratia paymeat of $1,020,000 tn l9G9) and che fomds weee invested for cl community? This action further convinced the r ae . 2 in April, 1972 officials in Washington, D.C. announced that Enewetok At oll woulbe returned to its people no liter chan the end of 1973. Recent veceene ' TL OF ‘ V ao. of a) od toy .