Ebeye, Kwajalein – February 10, 2025 – H.E. President Hilda C. Heine and First Gentleman Thomas Kijiner, Jr. attended the 81st Anniversary of Kwajalein Atoll Kamolol Day in Ebeye, Kwajalein.
The ceremony was attended by traditional leaders, members of Cabinet and Nitijela, the diplomatic corps, government officials, members of the private sector and NGOs, the community of Kwajalein, and other distinguished guests.
The auspicious event was a moment for reflection, remembrance, and recognition of the resilience of the Kwajalein community for the past 81 years. In her speech, President Heine highlighted Kwajalein’s unique significance within the Marshall Islands. As the largest atoll in the world and the only community in the Marshall Islands that commutes by ferry day and night for work, Kwajalein stands apart. Home to critical operations supporting the missile defense and space program for the United States, it plays a distinct role in both national and global security. Since the liberation of Kwajalein Atoll during the World War II, the people of Kwajalein have endured immense challenges. Yet today, Kwajalein thrives as a vibrant and resilient community, a testament to its strength, perseverance, and enduring spirit.
In addition to the Kamolol Day observance, the ceremony also marked the groundbreaking of the Ebeye Seawall Prep II Project, a crucial infrastructure initiative aimed at strengthening the island’s coastal defenses. This project is a key step in enhancing the resilience of Ebeye against the impacts of climate change and rising sea levels.
Jeramman Armij in Kwajalein!
—
H.E. President Hilda C. Heine
Statement for Kwajalein Day 2025
Iakwe kom woj aolep,
• Moktata, kile im kamolol Jemed Ilan kin juon raan emon, bareinwot kin mour im ejmour.
• Kile manit eo, Chairman Lanny Kabua, Vice Chairman Farrend Zackios, Iroij im Leroij ro, ekoba Owner eo ilo imweo mweir.
• Kile Iroij im Leroij ro jet an aelon kein ibelakin Majol in im ilikin Majol in.
• Kile Mojen ko emen ilo Ralik in, im ikonaan bar lelok juon ao special kile ejenolok nan Iroijlaplap Michael Kabua.
• Kile Iroijlaplap Christopher Jorebon Loeak, kile Leroij Neimat Reimers.
• Kile Reverend Lawson Matauto, Reverend Kauru Kaios, bareinwot kile rikaki ro jet ilo kabun ko kajojo.
• Kile Alap ro, aolep armej in Kwajalein im rein rej jukjuk im amnak ion Ebje in.
• Kile Speaker Wase, Vice-Speaker Zackhras, im ro karejeramiro; Minister im Senator ro rebed ijin rainin ekoba ro jet raar jab maron in koba tok im ro karejerami.
• Special kile nan rikwelok ro 3 an Kwajalein, Honorable Senator & Iroij Drile Kili Kabua, Senator Kitlang Kabua, im Minister David Paul im ro karejareir.
• Kile Mayor eo an aelon in, Honorable Mayor Hirata Kabua im Korein Mayor eo.
• Aolep rein uaan Council in an aelon in Kwajalein im ro karejareir.
• Kile Mayor ro jet rebed ijin ekoba ro rekar jab maron in koba tok rainin.
• Kile ro mottad ilo Diplomatic Corps eo, ROC Taiwan Ambassador H.E. Steve Hsia; Australian Ambassador H.E. Paul Wilson, U.S. Ambassador H.E. Laura Stone, and Japan Ambassador H.E. Hirohisa Soma.
• Kile Colonel Andrew Morgan of USAKA delegation eo nan ien in
• Kile kom woj kajojo.
Elap ao monono bwe kemro Tommy maron in pad im bok konamiro ilo raan in Kammolol in an armij in Kwajalein, juon raan eo eaurok im ejjenolok. Ejjenolok raan in an riKwajalein kinke aelon in make ejjenolok ilo elon kain wawein ko. Non waanjonak…
Moktata, ne jenaj kalimjoke geography eo an Kwajalein, itok wot jen an lap malo ne ilowaan aelon in, emoj kile im kalikar ke Kwajalein ej juon ene ak atoll eo ekileptata ilo lal in. Kin wawein in, ejjenolok Kwajalein.
Ne jenaj kenono kin armij ro, Irooj ro ad rellap jen Ralik rej bar itok jen Aelon in Kwajalein ekoba elon iaan President ro ad maantak im rej bar jebar jen Kwajalein. Kin wawein in, ejjenolok Kwajalein.
Jej loe ke eobrak Ebje kin armej in kajojo aelon in Majol, ro im raar jibadrok tok Iroij rein aer non bukot jerammon non baamle ko aer kajojo, einwot ad jela im melele ke ewor iaal nan aer ello jerammon ilo US military base ne ilo Kwajalein. US base in ej employer eo kein karuo, eo kein kajuon ej Kien eo ami, ilo an lon ro rej kejerbale.
Ejjelok bar armij in Majol rej uwe ilo teaj aolep raan im bon nan jibarok jikin jerbal ilo bar juon ene ak armij in Kwajalein. Makitkit ion dren ejjab juon men eo ebidodo ak wawein in ej kwalak jonan an lab kate im kijejeto ippen armij rein rej jukjuk im amnak ion aelon in. Jej monono kake ir kinke jej loe jonan aer kate ir mekarta kejwoj aolep melele eben wawein kein rej iioni. Jej loe ke elap aer uteej bureir kin aelon in aer mekarta rej ioon aban kein jen raan nan raan im rejab ebweir. Kin wawein in, ejjenolok Kwajalein.
Ne jenaj bar reilik lak nan history, Kwajalein ekar mottan military installation ko rellap an Japan mokta jen Amerika ilo bata eo an lal in kein karuo ak World War II. Thousand riJapan im riAmerika jimor rekar jako jen wot bata eo mokta jen an kar riAmerika maron anjo ioon riJapan ro ilo Kwajalein in. Itok wot jen an Amerika win i Kwajalein, ekar jiban kabiroroiklok ial eo aer nan win i bata eo jen ri-Japan ro ilo Pacific campaign eo aer ien tarinae eo. Rainin jej kakememej anjo eo ear bok jikin. Kin wawein in, ejjenolok Kwajalein.
Rainin, Kwajalein ej jerbal nan missile defense im space program ko an Amerika. Elap an aurok Kwajalein nan national security eo an Majol, Amerika im aolepen lal in. Jemaron ba ke eddo eo nan drebij im kejparok ainemmon eo an lal in ej bar bed ioon airad im ejjab iben Amerika wot ilo an wor military base ioon Kwajalein. Kin wawein in, ejjenolok Kwajalein.
Jej emmemej ro remootlok imaan im kammolol kin aolep wawein kein jej loe im mour kaki rainin mene jet iien eben. Jej kile ke elap sacrifice ko an Irooj, Alab im armij in Kwajalein kin joreen ko rellap jen bata eo im ilo an kar emakit armij ro bwe Amerika en kojerbale bwidrej ko aer bwe en walak naan ne jej ba “LUA”. “Ejjelok ad.” Kin wawein in, ejjenolok Kwajalein.
Mokta jen ao kajemlok naan kein ao, ikonan bok jidrik iien im kamolol Irooj ro im leadership eo an Kwajalein kin aer kar kakobaiki tok kejwoj non aelon emonmwin in aer bwe jen ibben droon im celebrate im kammolol Anij eo ad Rikomanman kin rainin elap im aurok. Jej loe ke elap tobrak. Im jej bar loe jen tobrak kein, elap ad kejatdikdik kin juon ilju eo e jeramman!
Enwot ami woj kate kom, Kien eo ami ejab kiil mejen jen aban ko rejelet kom. Jen ien nan ien, ne jej ron kin aban ko rej walak, Kien eo ejab bed ak jej bok bunton ko relap nan jiban mejel lok aban kein rej lukwoj kom. Jej bar kate koj bukot jerammon ko jen likin ilo ad jerbal iben partner ro ad im bareinwot kajeon kanol tok lal ko jet nan kaman bujen jemjera ko rekaal ibeir ilo ad lale ta eo jemaron jiban droon kake.
Partnership eo ad iben Amerika, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, koba lal ko jet im development partners ro jet einwot World Bank, Asian Development Bank im Green Climate Fund elap aer aurok – jaikuji er nan jiban kadroklok Aelon Kein Ad im rej bok im na wot. Seawall Project eo jej launch e rainin ij kurmool kin jipan jen jet iar partners rein ad. Elap unin bwe jen kamolol leadership eo an Kwjalein ekoba ri kwelok ro an Kwajalein nan Nitijela im Mayor eo im Council eo an Aelon in. Ewor unin bwe jen kamolol im bwe en lap kejatdikdik.
Jej jar wot im elap kojatdrikdrik ke ial ne imaan emeram. Enwot an late Iroojlaplap im President Imata Kabua kijon ba – Inmen Eo Inmen. Inmen Anij.
Bar juon alen, ilo etan kien eo Iolap, jerammon nan armij in Kwajalein.
