The first real economic mainstay of most Pacific Islanders, including Marshallese, was copra production (copra is the dried out meat of coconuts). Today, copra production remains an important source of income for locals and at the Tobolar Copra Processing Plant, you can see copra made into coconut oil, soaps, body oil, and coconut feed. For a quick tour call 625-3116 and email wpcandilas@ntamar.net.

Typhoons are quite rare in the Marshall Islands, but in 1918 a big one struck the southern atolls and Majuro was especially damaged. The typhoon caused over 200 causalities and widespread destruction. The 1918 Typhoon Monument, a large sandstone upright on the lagoon-side dirt road at the end of Laura, commemorates the victims of the typhoon and pays homage to the Japanese Emperor for his generous contribution of private funds for rebuilding Majuro.