Food cultivation on the islands has always been catch as catch can. Fish and seafood provide the bulk of the nonvegetable dishes, with tuna a staple of the catch. On land, breadfruit, coconut, arrowroot, yams, taro and pumpkins are the traditional mealtime mainstays. With the increasing Westernization of the Pacific, North American junk food has been increasingly dominating more traditional staples; on the rise too are the related health problems of obesity, diabetes, high blood-pressure and alcoholism.

In travels between the islands, early inhabitants learned to read the patterns of the waves and the positions of the stars, and they made stick charts to record and pass on their observations to less experienced navigators. By tying flat strips of wood together in imitation of the wave patterns and attaching cowry shells to the sticks to represent particular islands and atolls, the experienced navigator could memorize the patterns for when he was out at sea - the charts were not actually taken on the journeys. Although few modern Marshallese know how to read the charts, many still make them for their popularity as souvenirs.

Another craft once common in the Marshall Islands (but growing less so) is canoe building. The walap canoes of old could reach a length of 100ft (30m) and carry up to 40 people, with supplies for open-sea voyages that could last more than a month. The smaller and faster tipnol was used mainly for fishing inside the lagoons, while the korkor, a small outrigger sometimes fitted with a sail, was also used within the lagoons.

Marshallese and English are both official languages of the islands and are commonly spoken throughout the country. Indicative of islanders' general amicability, their traditional greeting, Yokwe yuk, means 'Love to you.'

For more information on Marshall Islands Culture, go to:

• Traditional Society (compiled by Dirk H.R. Spennemann)
  • Essays on the Marshall Islands
  • Population control measures in traditional Marshallese Culture- a review of 19th century European observations
  • Tatooing in the Marshall Islands
  • The Sea - The Marshallese World
• Traditional Subsistence (by Dirk H.R. Spennemann)
  • Marshallese Naming of Birds: As with many traditional cultures, the Marshallese view of the avifauna can besplit into two categories: those birds either edible or useful, and those birds with are neither.
  • Traditional utilization of Mangroves in the Marshall Islands: Mangroves are shoreline plants thriving in brackish seawater. Traditionally, the wood and the propagules were used for various purposes. Mangroves, mainly Brugiera sp. were planted by the Marshallese for coastal protection and the consolidation of newly created land.
• Traditional Material Culture
  • Observations on the Archaeological Differentiation Between Prehistoric and Historic
  • House Sites in the Marshall Islands - Coral Gravel Spreads (by Dirk H.R. Spennemann)
  • Traditional Marshallese Stickchart Navigation (Essays on the Marshallese Past) (by Dirk H.R. Spennemann)
  • Traditional and modern house construction on the Marshall Islands (by Dirk H.R. Spennemann): Brief description of the traditional Marshallese architecture. Contains a list of terms used for houses and their parts.
  • Marshallese Handicraft (Photo essays by Dirk H.R. Spennemann): Brief description and photographic documentation of various types of Marshallese handicraft, mainly from the 1990s. Detailed on seperate pages are: Baskets, Baskets with a lid, Baskets, Open Baskets, Breadfruit Peelers, Canoe Models, Coasters, Fans, Hats, Head ornaments, Jewelry, Mats, Obong, Purses, Stars, Stickcharts,
  • Marshallese Material Culture (Photo essays by Dirk H.R. Spennemann): Brief description and photographic documentation of various kinds of Marshallese material culture, such as Baskets, Belts, Breadfruit Peelers, Canoes, Canoe Models, Coasters, Drums, Fans, Fish hooks, Food, Hats, Head ornaments, Jewelry, Mats, Necklaces, Obong, Purses, Spears, Stars, Stick charts.
  • Marshallese Fishtraps--A Photo Essay (by Dirk HR Spennemann)
  • Modern Marshallese Huts (A Photo Essay by Dirk H.R. Spennemann)
  • Modern Marshallese Canoes (A Photo Essay by Dirk H.R. Spennemann)
  • Modern Marshallese Canoes. The Enewetak Walap of 1992 (A Photo Essay by Dirk H.R. Spennemann)
  • Modern Canoe from Chuuk (A Photo Essay by Dirk H.R. Spennemann)
• Heritage Management (compiled by Dirk H.R. Spennemann)
  • Cultural Heritage Legislation of the Republic of the Marshall Islands
  • Cultural heritage management of unexploded ammunition (Originally published in CRM Bulletin 21(8), 48-51, 1998): The paper reviews the issues of unexploded ordnance removal at and near heritage sites and provides options for action, aimed at safe guarding life and property of visitors and heritage managers while at the same time not unduly impairing the heritage items.
  • Saving WWII Historic Sites. Metals Conservation Course in the Marshall Islands (David W. Look, . & Dirk H.R. Spennemann; Originally published in CRM Bulletin 16 (5), 22-24, 1993)
  • Preparing for the 50th anniversary of Guam Liberation. Metals Conservation Course and Demonstration Project (David W. Look, . & Dirk H.R. Spennemann; Originally published in CRM Bulletin vol. 18 no 8, pp. 35-36)
  • Apocalypse now?-the fate of World War II sites on the Central Pacific (Dirk H.R. Spennemann; Originally published in CRM Bulletin 15(2), 15-16, 1992)
  • Conservation Assessment of the Joachim De Brum House, Likiep Atoll (by Jon O'Neill and Dirk H.R. Spennemann): Report dealing with the history and preservation of the Joachim deBrum house on Likiep Atoll, one of the last major buildings of the German colonial period in Micronesia.
  • German Colonial Heritage in Micronesia (by Jon O'Neill and Dirk H.R. Spennemann; Cultural Resource Management vol. 24 no 1, pp. 46-47, 2001)
  • Conservation management and mitigation of the impact of tropical cyclones: Examples from Tonga, the Marshall Islands and Australia (compiled by Dirk H.R. Spennemann): This paper addresses the issue of the impact of typhoons on coastal sites and the implications these present and future impacts are likely to have on policy and practice of cultural resource management. Three case studies (Tonga, Marshall Islands and North Queensland), have been drawn on to show the effects of storm surges on sites. The impact of the mitigation measures (if any) is described and placed into the context of changing global climate patterns. A number of management constraints deriving from issues of traditional ownership and conflicting values are discussed and potential solutions are advanced
  • Perceptions of Heritage Eco-tourism by Micronesian Decision Makers (by Dirk H.R. Spennemann, David W. Look and Kristy Graham): If cultural and heritage eco-tourism is to succeed, co-ordination and planning is required. This begs the question: What are the attitudes of Micronesian Government officials toward ecotourism and towards cultural heritage sites? The symposium provided the opportunity to poll participant decision makers. This report summarises the findings of two polls administered before and after the Heritage Eco-Tourism Symposium, on Rota, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) from 28 February to 3 March 2000.
  • Heritage Eco-Tourism in Micronesia. Expectations of Government Officials (by Dirk H.R. Spennemann, David W. Look and Kristy Graham; Cultural Resource Management vol. 24 no 1, pp. 30-32, 2001)
  • The Archeology of the Atomic Bomb: A Submerged Cultural Resources Assessment of the Sunken Fleet of Operation Crossroads at Bikini and Kwajalein Atoll Lagoons (by James P. Delgado, Daniel J. Lenihan, Larry E. Murphy)
  • MICRONESIA: A Submerged Cultural Resources Assessment (by Toni Carrell, Editor)
• Modern Settlements (by Dirk HR Spennemann)
  • Mejatto Island, Kwajalein Atoll--A Photo Essay: Includes photos of houses and guest huts, photographed in 1993
  • The Islands of Mile Atoll--A Photo Essay: Includes photos of houses and guest huts, as well as canoes, and a spirit bottle.
• Traditional Literature
  • Marshallese Legends and Traditions (edited by Jane Downing and Dirk H.R. Spennemann): A English-language compilation of various Marshallese Legends and Traditions. This book (in its second edition) was the first attempt to compile oral traditions for both a Marshallese and a English-speaking audience.
  • The Whale and the Sandpiper (an oral tradition retold and illustrated by Jane Downing): An illustrated oral tradition originally developed as a an English reader for Marshallese schools.
  • The Hermit Crab and the Needlefish (an oral tradition retold and illustrated by Jane Downing): An illustrated oral tradition originally developed as a an English reader for Marshallese schools.
  • Letao to America (an oral tradition told by Kelin): Letao continues his trickery in modern times. A good example of the endurance and continuing appeal of this mythological character.
• European Literature: A number of authors wrote short stories or novellas set in the Marshall Islands. Some of them such as Louis Becke and Jane Downing, had lived there for a while or travelled through (such as Fanny Stevenson), while others, such as Handley Bathurst Sterndale, were largely arm-chair writers. This section contains brief biographies of the main writers as well as samples of their witing.
  • BECKE, George Lewis ('Louis') (1855-1913) A brief biography by Dirk H.R. Spennemann
    • Marketing a colonial Australian writer (Web-based Presentation) 
    • The British and American Publishing History of Louis Becke (1859-1913) - by Dirk H.R. Spennemann) - WARNING: The slide show is quite heavy on images, some of which may be slow to load.
    • The methodical Mr. Burr of Majuro: short story by Louis Becke edited by Dirk H.R. Spennemann
    • A point of theology on Majuro: short story by Louis Becke edited by Dirk H.R. Spennemann
    • The strange white woman of Majuro: short story by Louis Becke edited by Dirk H.R. Spennemann
  • DOWNING, Jane
    • The Greenhouse Ark: short story by Jane Downing
    • The Christmas Choir: short story by Jane Downing
    • Creation (I): poem by Jane Downing
    • Creation (II): poem by Jane Downing
  • MOLL, Ernest George (1900 - 1993)
    • A Scientist Writes from Bikini: poem by Ernest G. Moll
  • VON SCHEVEN, Rudolph
    • El Niño '92 - The dry side of life: poem by Rudolph von Scheven
• European Art
  • AGHTE, Curt
    • Jaluit: watercolour by Curt Ahgte (in b&w)
    • Im Hafen von Jaluit: watercolour by Curt Ahgte (in b&w)
    • Landeshauptmannschaft Jaluit: watercolour by Curt Ahgte (in b&w)
    • Wettschwimmen der Eingeborenen: watercolour by Curt Ahgte (in b&w)
    • Kanu der Eingeborenen: watercolour by Curt Ahgte (in b&w)
  • ENOS, Amram
    • Modern Marshallese Life: acrylic by Amram Enos
    • Traditional Marshallese Life: acrylic by Amram Enos
    • Tobolar and the Coconut Industry: stamp designs by Amram Enos
  • JACOULET, Paul (1896-1960)
    • Jeune Fille De Jaluit. Marshalls (1939): woodblock print by Paul Jacoulet 
    • Ochidees Blanches. Jaluit (c. 1958: woodblock print by Paul Jacoulet
  • MASON, R.G.
    • 'The dreadful scene of destruction of the Pintadoas': woodcut by R.G. Mason