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Yokwe Yuk (Welcome)!

Valerie and I lived on the beautiful and isolated island of Kwajalein in the Republic of the Marshall Islands from mid-2003 through early 2007. Kwajalein Atoll is located in the west central Pacific Ocean, about 2,100 miles southwest of Hawaii and 1,400 miles east of Guam (view map). The island is home to USAKA (United States Army Kwajalein Atoll), the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site, and about 1,400 support personnel and family members on Kwajalein and Roi-Namur islands. While on "Kwaj", Valerie worked as a Meteorologist and I was a Meteorologist turned IT Systems Manager.

Moving to Kwaj? Perhaps visiting? If so, you'll be interested in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)!
A wealth of information on Kwajalein's weather, including near real-time products (radar, satellite, forecasts, etc.), are available on the RTS Weather Station web site.
Although the weather across the Marshalls is typically bland, they do experience the occasional tropical storm or typhoon. Visit my Tropical Meteorology page for a taste.
General information about Kwajalein
Additional Kwajalein pictures can be found in the Latest Work album.
Other great sites for Kwajalein information are www.quitewright.com (provided by my friend and past co-worker, Tom Wright) and the Kwajalein Air Traffic Control Facility web site, though this is no longer being updated on a regular basis.

Featured pictures  
Assorted PhotographsAssorted Photographs
A collection of assorted pictures from the beautiful Kwajalein Atoll.
View photographs...



Atoll OverviewAtoll Overview
My twin sister, a middle-school teacher, visited Kwajalein and used this as a presentation for her students. View photographs...


Weather Station Pictures Weather Station
As mentioned above, Valerie and I were employed on Kwajalein as weather forecasters. See where we work, sometimes. View photographs...


Wildlife Pictures Wildlife
Geckos and sharks and crabs...oh my!
View photographs...
  Underwater PicturesUnderwater Photographs
A collection of my favorite underwater photographs, most of which were shot on Kwajalein. View photographs...


Meck Island PicturesMeck Island
Meck is located about 20 miles north of Kwajalein and is home to a number of booster silos. I once accompanied two technicians to the island to perform repairs on some weather monitoring equiopment.. View photographs...


Pictures of Roi-Namur Roi-Namur Island
Roi-Namur is the northern most island in the Kwajalein Atoll. A twin-prop plane makes a couple of daily trips between Kwajalein and Roi... View photographs...

Event pictures  
Christmas Pictures Island-style Christmas
"How'd you like to spend Christmas...?" Well, it's not quite Christmas Island, but it's close. Kwajalein knows how to celebrate the holiday season: with Scuba Santa and free wine! View photographs...
December 2003 - 2006


Halloween 2006Halloween 2006
A kids shaving cream party, pumpkin carving contests, adult costume parties, trick-o'-treating...
View photographs...
November 5 , 2006


PBQ DemolitionPBQ Demolition
The aging Pacific Bachelor Quarters was demolished today with 168 sticks of dynamite. Find out what that sounds like by clicking on the link below.
View photographs and video...

July 7, 2006


Bigej Dive TripBigej Dive Trip
47 divers attended a trip to ocean-side Bigej that was organized by the Kwajalein SCUBA Club.
View photographs...
August 29, 2005


Fireworks Display Independence Day '04 Fireworks Display
Kwaj residents were treated to an impressive fireworks display, reflected in the tranquil waters of the world's largest lagoon. View photographs...
July 4, 2004

Beach Party PicturesBeach Party
It's mighty cold back in the States. Warm yourself up with pictures of a beach party and BBQ, recently thrown by a fellow co-worker. View photographs...
January 30, 2004


Welcome Party Pictures Welcome Party
Soon after Valerie and I arrived on the island, our coworkers welcomed us with a beach party.
View photographs...
August 25, 2003


  Big Waves at Emon BeachBig Waves at Emon Beach
A developing tropical disturbance generated rough seas and impressive waves along the lagoon side of the east reef on Kwajalein Island. View photographs...
October 7, 2006


Proteus AircraftProteus Aircraft
Kwajalein gets a special visit from Protues - a high-altitude composite aircraft.
View photographs...

January 14, 2006


July 4, 2005 Independence Day '05 Beach Blast
Although festivities were initially delayed due to heavy rain, skies cleared and the Independence Day 2005 Beach Blast was underway... View photographs...
July 4, 2005


Sax Ensemble PerformancesKwaj Sax Ensemble
Take a gander at performances by the "saxiest" beasts on Kwajalein! New videos added on 3/12/2007!
View videos...

December 2003 - February 2007


Farewell Party Weather
Station Party

We had a PCS party for the Fairs and Storeys and a promotion party for Mary Steeves. View photographs...
April 5, 2004


Oleanda Pictures Oleanda Cruise Ship
Valerie and I recently took a sunset cruise aboard the Oleanda. This private yacht is based out of the Majuro Atoll and spent a month docked here at Kwajalein. View photographs...
November 29, 2003



Videos  


  • Awesome Wave Action: The kids have one heck of a time playing in large waves generated by a developing tropical disturbance. Surf's up!
  • Length: 2 min 12 sec
  • File size: 8.5 MB
  • View photographs of the waves


  • Pacific Bachelor Quarters Demolition: What do you get when you detonate 168 sticks of dynamite in a dilapidated building? A good show!
  • Length: 1 min 22 sec
  • File size: 5.5 MB
  • View additional photographs


  • Kwajalein Serenity: A cornucopia of scenes, both from land and air, of the Kwajalein Atoll.
  • Length: 2 min 49 sec
  • File size: 7.3 MB
  • Come Fly With Me: A collection of the wide variety of aircraft that pass through the US Army Kwajalein Atoll (USAKA) Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site (RTS).
  • Length: 7 min 41sec
  • Size: 14.9 MB

  • Kwajalein Surf Slam-fest: A tropical storm develops 150 nm off the coast of Kwajalein, battering the tiny island with enormous waves.
  • Length: 2 min 18 sec
  • Size: 4.5 MB
  • View additional material of tropical weather.
 

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