£ .I7#.Emie Prom une marine environment were rendered useless. Z>., lite im Hili Island has never been pleasant for us. As niTia 2ftve, vessel access to the island is severely restricted during 2 large part of the year. But even during the months men vessels 22n s2elfeiy approach the island, there has beena snorvege cf "field urip" vessels to make the trip. ‘% Infrequent Pisld trizs nave meant that the copra (dried meat of the coconut, Une gorinctisza. scurce of cash income in the Marshall Islands) that @ friduse is 1ls?t v2 spoll or to be eaten by the rats, a strong Gisinsentive 22 Future copra production. L3i2, we In 1949, 1950, and 7 ts were azatn the victims of serious food shortages, severe: arniugh thes in 1352 food was air-dropped to us “Uo The 212 9f parachutes, (unfortunately : so that most of the food was_ naered inedible). aesvastating typhoon in 1957 ‘eaused wide-sbe bat a wie we: », when Cerations and other emergency foodstuffs were cYrought vo the island. AOEoe . Another serious food shortage occurred” winter season. reisnstivatiin. in tiner tarts Even chose of us who have left Kili to reside’ cf the Marshall Islands retain strong affiliations itn and lovelcvies tt the Bikini community on Kili. Tne Sinini rrivins round ~Z z Tr Mer2n 23, 1944, a small group of Japanese soldiers manning station on Bikini Atoll committed Suicide rather than . Nae? surrender tf g not-much-larger landing party of American troops... ze ofthe: anierican 4 administraticnvof 8 mee Ra + a Thy . : ems Sates