Culture of the Marshall Islands

Prior to close contact with Westerners, children went naked and men and women were topless, wearing only skirts made of mats of native materials.

The strong family ties contribute to close-knit communities rooted in the values of caring, kindness and respect.

Former residents and their descendants who were ousted after World War II receive compensation from the U.S. government.

The Marshallese were once skilled navigators, able to sail long distances aboard the two-hulled proa between the atolls using the stars and stick and shell charts.

The islanders were relatively isolated and had developed a well-integrated society bound by close extended family association and tradition.

[2] Men and women wore only skirts made of native materials woven into mats.

The modern culture of the islanders is heavily influenced by Western Christian missionaries who began arriving in the late 19th century.

[3] The economic activity of some Marshallese from the Bikini Islanders has been changed by their growing dependence on payments made by the U.S. government.

Women traditionally[4] wore two mats about a yard (metre) square each, made by weaving pandanus and hibiscus leaves together,[2] and belted around the waist.

Not one would think of exposing her ankles..." Every lagoon was led by a king and queen and a following of chieftains and chief women who comprised a ruling caste.

The islanders worked the copra plantations under the watchful eye of the Japanese, who took a portion of the sales.

[6] Women generally wear cotton muʻumuʻus or similar clothing that covers most of the body.

[4] Marshall island women swim in muʻumuʻus which are made of a fine polyester that quickly dries.

[8] Before the advent of Western influence, the islanders' sustenance-based lifestyle was based on cultivating native plants and eating shellfish and fish.

This dependency has eroded individual's interest in traditional economic pursuits like taro and copra production.

Grandparents, parents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, and cousins form extended, close-knit family groups.

One of the most significant family events is the first birthday of a child {kemem}, where relatives and friends celebrate with feasts and song.

Afterward, they had greater interaction with representatives of the trust fund and the U.S. government and began to look to them for support.

One important word in Marshallese is "yokwe" which is similar to the Hawaiian "aloha" and means "hello", "goodbye" and "love".

[citation needed] Marshallese food that is eaten today can be dated back to the establishment of the actual culture.