Hirata Kabua

USAG-KA hosts first RMI returnees

USAG-KA hosts first RMI returnees

HILARY HOSIA The first Marshallese to re-enter RMI during the lockdown was released Tuesday to the general public following 21 days of strict quarantine at the US Army Garrison – Kwajalein Atoll. Immediately after his release, longtime USAG-KA employee Joe Rubon met with US Ambassador Roxanne Cabral, Col. Jeremy Bartel, Kwajalein Mayor Hirata Kabua, Kwajalein […]

Close call on Covid

Close call on Covid

GIFF JOHNSON The US Army Garrison, Kwajalein Atoll had its first long-distance brush with coronavirus when one of the 15 base workers scheduled to return this week tested positive for Covid-19 in Honolulu prior to departing for Kwajalein. Contract tracing by Army authorities identified three others in the intending repatriation group to have had contact […]

Solar team to light up Kwajalein

Solar team to light up Kwajalein

While Kwajalein Atoll Local Government waits on a date to start the power project on Ennibur (Santo) Island from the RMI Cabinet, 100 solar units are to be distributed to islands within Kwajalein this year. The solar project stems from a matching grant partnership between KALGov and Humanity First, with each contributing $15,000. Earlier in […]

Power coming to Santo

Power coming to Santo

HILARY HOSIA For the first time in history, power will be available to the people of Ennibur Island, more commonly known as Santo or Third Island on Kwajalein Atoll. The island is home to nearly 1,000 Marshallese, many of whom are children.The development unfolded in a discussion by Kwajalein Mayor Hirata Kabua and President David […]

The 42-day ocean drift

The 42-day ocean drift

HILARY HOSIA Their ocean saga started from the largest coral atoll in the world and ended at the world’s smallest. Kwajalein fishermen Godfrey Capelle, Benjamin Thomas and Junior Joram called for help on the phone when their outboard engine died midway through their fishing trip on April 2. The rough ocean condition that day made […]

RMI extends travel ban

RMI extends travel ban

The RMI National Disaster Committee extended the Covid-19 border closure for another month with the issuance of a new Travel Advisory late last week. Chief Secretary Kino Kabua issued Travel Advisory 14 June 4, extending the ban on incoming travelers to July 5. It also continues the ban on travel between Majuro and Kwajalein on […]

USAG-KA to bring in workers

USAG-KA to bring in workers

HILARY HOSIA US Army Garrison – Kwajalein Atoll Commander Colonel Jeremy Bartel left a three-hour meeting on Ebeye June 1 with a smile on his face. The reason for the smile: Ebeye community members gave their approval for the Army to bring in six personnel to work at the Army installation. The six personnel, five […]

‘Enforce law, don’t ban betel nut’

‘Enforce law, don’t ban betel nut’

HILARY HOSIA Irresponsible betel nut chewing and the stains this creates has long been a public health issue in Marshall Islands even before the enactment of the betel nut law in 2010 that prohibits the sale of the stimulant drug. Add Covid-19 and the issue resurfaced in Nitijela — only this time on steroids. So […]

Palau sees conservation $$ grow

Palau sees conservation $$ grow

Palau received close to half a million dollars earlier this month from an investment fund established 10 years ago to support conservation work in US-affiliated islands. The Micronesian Challenge Endowment Fund will also be available to support protected areas in the Marshall Islands and Federated States of Micronesia once these nations adopt required legislation and […]