Chapter Eight
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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
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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
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