What animals live in Marshall Islands?

The Marshall Islands sit in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, so the animals there are mostly ocean creatures and seabirds. The warm, shallow lagoons are home to sea turtles, reef sharks, colorful fish like parrotfish and triggerfish, and large manta rays that glide through the water like underwater kites. Above the water, you'll spot frigatebirds with their wide wingspans soaring over the atolls, and noddy terns nesting along the shoreline. On land, the islands are small and flat, so there aren't many large land animals — but hermit crabs are everywhere, carrying their borrowed shells across the sand. The Marshallese people have fished and sailed these waters for thousands of years, and they know these creatures well.

What do kids eat in Marshall Islands?

Kids in the Marshall Islands grow up eating a lot of fish, since the islands are surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and fishing is a big part of life there. Breadfruit is another favorite — it's a starchy fruit that grows on trees and can be baked, fried, or pounded into a paste. Coconut shows up in almost every meal, whether as coconut milk in cooking or just cracked open for a drink. Rice has become a staple food too, often eaten alongside fish or canned meat. Some families enjoy a traditional dish called 'kōņo,' which is made from breadfruit or pandanus fruit — pandanus looks a bit like a pineapple and grows wild on the islands. Fresh fruit like papaya and banana round out many meals. It's a simple diet built around what the ocean and the land provide.

How do people say hello in Marshall Islands?

In the Marshall Islands, people speak Marshallese, and the most common way to say hello is 'Iakwe' (say it like 'yah-kway'). It is a wonderful word because it does not just mean hello — it actually means something closer to 'you are a rainbow' or 'I see the light in you.' Marshallese people are known for being warm and welcoming, and that greeting shows it. English is also spoken on the islands, so you might hear a regular 'hello' too. Missionaries who go there get to learn Marshallese and use words like 'Iakwe' to build friendships and share the good news about Jesus with the people they meet.

What sports or games do kids play in Marshall Islands?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding right beside me! Kids in the Marshall Islands love soccer — you'll find them kicking a ball around on just about any open patch of ground near the lagoon. Swimming and fishing are huge too, since these islands are basically tiny strips of land surrounded by warm Pacific water, so the ocean is like a giant backyard. Rusty wants to add that volleyball is really popular, and you'll often see nets set up on the beach for after-school games. Traditional Marshallese kids also grew up learning to navigate canoes — their ancestors were some of the greatest ocean navigators in history, reading stars and waves to sail hundreds of miles. Some young people still take pride in learning those old canoe skills today.

What's the weather like in Marshall Islands?

The Marshall Islands sit right near the equator in the Pacific Ocean, so it is warm and humid almost every single day of the year. Temperatures usually stay between 80 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and there is no real winter — just a wetter season and a drier season. The wetter season runs from about May to November, when heavy tropical rainstorms roll through regularly. The islands are very low and flat — most land is only a few feet above sea level — so strong storms can be serious for the people who live there. The Marshallese people are tough and resourceful, and many of them trust God to provide for them through difficult times.

Tell me a fun fact about Marshall Islands.

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! The Marshall Islands sits right in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, and it is made up of 29 coral atolls and 5 islands — that is over 1,200 tiny islands and islets in all. You could spend years hopping from one to the next and still not see them all! Rusty's favorite fact is this: the Marshallese people were incredible navigators long before modern maps existed. They built charts made from sticks and shells — called stick charts — to map out ocean wave patterns and find their way between islands. No compass, no GPS, just reading the sea itself. God gave humans remarkable minds for discovery, and the Marshallese are a great example of that.

What is school like for kids in Marshall Islands?

In the Marshall Islands, most kids go to school Monday through Friday, just like you might. Classes are taught in both Marshallese and English, because English is one of the official languages there. Many schools are on small islands called atolls, and some kids even travel by boat to reach their classrooms! School buildings in the Marshall Islands are often simple, and some outer islands have very few teachers or books compared to schools in bigger countries. Many families here are Christian, so some schools teach the Bible alongside regular subjects. Missionaries have worked hard over the years to help people read — both so they can learn, and so they can read God's Word for themselves.

Who are the unreached people in Marshall Islands?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! The Marshall Islands sits in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, and most people there have heard some version of Christianity — missionaries came long ago and churches exist on the islands. But there is one group that missiologists (people who study missions) keep a close eye on: the Marshallese people themselves, many of whom mix Christian ideas with older island beliefs rather than trusting fully in Jesus alone as Savior. Rusty wants to add this: there are also small communities of people from other parts of Asia, including some from places where Islam or other religions are strong, who have moved to the Marshall Islands. They often have very little chance to hear the true gospel. Pray that Marshallese Christians would grow deep in God's Word and boldly share Jesus with their neighbors — both those who have drifted from the faith and those who have never truly heard it.

How can I pray for the people of Marshall Islands?

Herman and Rusty here, and we love this question! The Marshall Islands is a chain of tiny coral islands in the Pacific Ocean, home to about 42,000 people called Marshallese. Many people there have heard the name of Jesus, but knowing His name and truly trusting Him as Savior are different things — so the most important prayer is that the gospel would go deep into people's hearts. You can also pray that Marshallese churches would grow strong, with faithful local leaders who know the Bible well and teach it clearly. Pray for families — moms, dads, and kids — to come to know Jesus together. And pray that any Marshallese believers who face pressure or hardship for their faith would stand firm, knowing God is with them.

What is a holiday or celebration in Marshall Islands?

One of the biggest celebrations in the Marshall Islands is Constitution Day, held every May 1st. That's the day the Marshall Islands officially became its own nation back in 1979, so people gather to celebrate with traditional dances, singing, and feasting together on the islands. Marshallese traditional dances are something special — the movements often tell stories about the ocean, canoe voyaging, and island life, passed down through generations. Many Marshallese people are also Christians, so you'll find church gatherings woven into celebrations too, which is a good reminder that we can pray for believers there to grow strong in their faith and share the good news of Jesus with their neighbors.

What language do people speak in Marshall Islands?

The people of the Marshall Islands speak Marshallese, their own language that has been around for thousands of years. It has some tricky sounds that are hard for outsiders to learn at first! Most people there also speak English, which came from years of outside contact with the wider world. Here is something worth knowing: the Bible has been translated into Marshallese, which means people can read God's Word in the language they grew up speaking at home. That is a real gift, because when someone hears about Jesus in their heart language — the one their family uses around the fire or at the dinner table — the message can sink in deep and clear.

What's a famous place to visit in Marshall Islands?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! One of the most striking places in the Marshall Islands is Bikini Atoll — a ring of small islands sitting in the middle of the vast Pacific Ocean. It became famous in history because the United States tested powerful bombs there after World War II, and people still study what happened to the land and water there today. Rusty loves pointing out that the Marshall Islands are made up of 29 coral atolls, which are rings of coral reef that circle calm, bright-blue lagoons. The lagoons are so clear you can see deep into the water, and some old shipwrecks from World War II rest on the ocean floor below. For the Marshallese people, though, the most important thing is not the scenery — it is knowing the God who created every island and every wave, and that is why missionaries have worked hard to bring the good news of Jesus to these remote Pacific shores.

Marshall Islands — Kids Missions Explorer

Coconut Crab

The largest land-living arthropod on Earth, this powerful crab can crack open a coconut with its claws and is found on the remote islands of the Marshall Islands.

Green Sea Turtle

These ancient reptiles glide through the warm lagoons of the Marshall Islands, returning to the same sandy beaches where they were born to lay their eggs.

Blacktip Reef Shark

A slender, fast-moving shark recognized by the black tips on its fins, it patrols the shallow coral reefs that ring nearly every Marshallese atoll.

Breadfruit

A starchy, round fruit that can be roasted, boiled, or pounded into a soft paste, breadfruit has been a filling staple for Marshallese families for generations.

Coconut Rice

Plain rice cooked in rich coconut milk until it is soft and slightly sweet, this everyday dish shows how deeply the coconut palm feeds nearly every part of island life.

Pounded Taro

Taro root is boiled and then pounded into a thick, grayish paste with a mild, earthy flavor that Marshallese people have eaten as a traditional food for centuries.

Marshall Islands

Things you should know about Marshall Islands

Wildlife you might meet

What’s on the table

Did you know?

Life in Marshall Islands

Missions in Marshall Islands

Pray for Marshall Islands