A speck in the Pacific

If you ask most people “Where are the Marshall Islands?” you won’t find too many who can put their finger on a map correctly. As a rough guide, if you drew a line between Auckland and Tokyo, the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) would lie about halfway…in the Central Pacific.

Historically, it is believed that the earliest Micronesians settled among the 29 islands and atolls some 4,000 years ago. Europeans later found the islands on their Pacific travels in the early part of the 16th century. Even though the islands are named after British explorer, John Marshall, who was travelling immediately after James Cook in 1788, they were part of the Spanish East Indies until 1884 when they were sold to the Germans. The Prussians were busy building their vast colonial empire until they lost it all after WWI when the RMI were ceded to the Japanese, who then lost it following their defeat in WWII.

Thereafter the US took over, using the islands as a strategic base until their transition to ‘Free Association’ and renamed the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI). The US military still maintain a substantial presence on Kwajalein.

Older Marshallese still remember the postwar atomic tests such as the famous ‘Bikini Atoll’ explosion, where an entire fleet of captured and retired warships was obliterated in a single blast. Consequently a great deal of money and reparations have gone into the RMI as a result, but there are still some sad memories among the islanders who were displaced at the time.

There is also a persistent, but lesser known story surrounding the disappearance of Amelia Earhart in July 1937, which places her forced landing and subsequent capture by the Japanese near Mili Atoll to the south of Majuro. There was even a set of commemorative stamps issued to back up this tale.

Today leisure visitors arrive to enjoy spectacular sport fishing, amazing scuba diving and perhaps to explore the poignant war relics left behind after the fierce battles of WWII.

Where to stay:

The major international airport is located on Majuro where the modern accommodation facilities are also to be found.

1 Hotel Robert Reimers

Operated by one of the pioneering Marshallese families, this property offers both standard hotel suites as well as secluded waterfront bungalows. There is a quality restaurant and bar located on site and is well located, close to shopping and facilities. www. hotelrobertreimers.com

2 Airport Hotel and Lojkar Apartments

As the name suggests, located close to the airport and offering superior modern accommodation suitable for families or longer stay guests. Large, self-contained with reliable WiFi, these apartments are a popular choice. www.piimajuro.com

3 Marshall Islands Resort

Located mid-island at Delop, this larger contemporary resort hotel offers guests familiar accommodation options found in many major islands with swimming pool, tennis courts and conference facilities. The full service restaurant and beachside BBQ are a local attraction. www. marshallislandsresort.com Apart from these centrally located resorts and hotels, there are a great many basic beach ‘getaways’ to be found on the outer islands to suit backpackers and those seeking a more traditional island experience.

Food and Drink:

Majuro is quite the melting pot of international cuisine where visitors can find anything from Chinese, Filipino, Indian, French, Japanese and local Marshallese food along the winding road from the airport to the Rita district at the northernmost tip.

1 Enra:

Located in the Marshall Islands Resort, the restaurant regularly offers themed cuisine in the large capacity restaurant and outdoor BBQ area.

2 Tide Table:

Located in the Hotel Robert Reimers complex offering a wide range of Western and Asian themed dishes with a well stocked bar. Popular with travelling business people.

Getting around:

Many locations can be reached on foot, but the local informal taxi service is fun, economical and functional. Taxis stop to pick up passengers anywhere along their island-long route and will never cost more than a few dollars.

A quality rental car is available from reliable operators like Majuro Motors near the Marshall Islands Resort.

Things to do: 1 Scuba Diving:

The RMI is fast gaining a reputation as a world-leading destination for adventurous scuba diving. With more than 1,000 species of fish, 250 species of hard and soft corals as well as some of the most famous WWII shipwrecks (like the world’s only diveable aircraft carrier) it is truly for the most intrepid divers while still holding appeal for novices and snorkellers.

2 Surfing:

Described by expert surfers as a tropical cocktail mix of Hawaii and Indonesia and a delightful relaxing location to boot. For the technical, the majority of surf is right-handed point reef breaks that attract surfers between the ideal season of November to March when a lazy 10 knot breeze blows all day long.

3 Deep Sea and Lagoon Fishing:

There is fishing for everyone in the RMI. Whether you are a deep-sea fisher looking for the trophy pelagic billfish or just some more leisurely lagoon species, fishing is an exciting activity the whole family can enjoy. For the serious anglers, as many as ten tournaments are held every year. Day charters and excursions can be booked on a wide variety of vessels. Best time for fishing is May to October.