DOE ARCHIVES
and desirable has prevented a wholehearted attempt to adjust
to the island.
The writer was closely involved with the former Bikini
people during, his years of service as District Anthropologist
in the Marshall Island.
He lived on Kili for several pro-
Jonged periods and was able to sce what life on Kili is like.
In his opinion the complaints of tne e€x-Bikini people on Kili
are valid.
Conditions are certainly unfavorable.
There are
periods when the island is isolated and the people are very
short of food.
There is no doubt that Kili could support a
smaller population,
if the island could be suppited adequately
from tne outside world.
However,
the only solution acceptable
to the former Bikinians, as a whole, is to return them to
Bikini.
Attempts to Aid in the Adjustment Process
The Administration of the Trust Territory made various
efforts to assist the relocated Bikinians to make a successful
adjustment to Kili.
A fifty-foot schooner was purchased and
turned over to the group.
This was to be used to supply the
island in addition to the regular field trip stops.
The craft
was soon lost in the surf due to mishandiing by the inexperienced crew.
A second craft was provided
This was a great help but was lost
several years later.
in a typhoon which swept
through the soucvhern Marshalls in December of 1957.
land was provided ror tne use
Government
of the Kili people on the neigh-
boring atoli of Jaliuit,
Several acres on Jabwor Isiand were
used as a village area.
Houses,
a storenouse,
and other