Landsat picture of Kili Atoll |
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Kili Island (Marshall islands)
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | North Pacific |
| Archipelago | Ralik |
| Total islands | 1 |
| Area | 0.93 km2 (0.359 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 3 m (10 ft) |
| Country | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 600 (as of 2005) |
| Ethnic groups | Marshallese |
Kili Island or Kili Atoll (Marshallese: Kōle, /kɘlʲɘɦʲ/ or [kɤ͡elee̯][1]) is a 0.93 square kilometres (0.36 sq mi) coral atoll located in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district of the Ralik Chain of the Marshall Islands. It is approximately 48 kilometres (30 mi) southwest of Jaluit. The island, which has no central lagoon or reef protection, is one of the smallest islands in the Marshall Islands.
Kili cannot be reached by ship four months out of the year because of rough seas. However, there is a grass airstrip on the island, Kili Airport, which is served by Air Marshall Islands when its aircraft are operational. The main agricultural product of the island is copra. Residents are supported through trust agreements between the United States and the Marshall Islands yielding about $15 per person per year.
Kili Atoll was claimed by the Empire of Germany along with the rest of the Marshall Islands in 1884. After World War I, the island came under the South Pacific Mandate of the Empire of Japan. Following the end of World War II, it came under the control of the United States as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Kili was uninhabited until November 2, 1948, at which point, the United States government relocated the Bikini Atoll's indigenous population of 200 while Bikini was used for nuclear tests. The population today is approximately 600 people, composed primarily of descendants of refugees of Bikini.
Island produce consists of (in descending order of quantity) coconuts, limes, breadfruit, squash, bananas, papayas, and sugar cane. Fishing in the ocean around the island is difficult due to the lack of protection by a lagoon. The island also suffers from overpopulation, forcing residents to rely on imports in addition to local resources. Each family on the island receives 2-3 shipments a year consisting of 1-2 boxes of frozen chicken, 2-4 50-lb bags of flour, and 2-4 bags of rice; this shipment is provided by the Bikinian government in conjunction with the U.S. government. Imports are overseen by the Bikini Public Works Department, which also maintains houses and runs the power plant on the island. There is currently a government effort to increase farming on the island, but the coral reef soil is poor. However, there is a small farm that produces melons and some vegetables. There are several small stores operated out of homes that provide nonperishable food items such as salt, tabasco, candy, and canned items.
Families on Kili live in cinderblock houses with air-conditioning and electricity. Most houses on Kili have kitchens, but many prefer to cook outdoors in cook-huts over an open flame.
Kili has two Christian churches: the Assembly of God and Protestant church.
There is an elementary school on Kili for students from Kindergarten to eighth grade. There is a class for each age group, in addition to one class for students with special needs. Classes typically range in size from 6 to 18 students. Some of the teachers are native to Kili, some come from neighboring islands. In addition, the Dartmouth Volunteer Teaching Program has placed 2-4 American volunteer teachers at the school every year since 2002.[2] The American volunteers stay and teach for one or more years. Toward the end of their eighth grade year, students must pass a standardized test to gain admission to public high school in Jaluit or Majuro.
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