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22 The Unforgettable Moments in Life
First Keme By Andrea Kibin
We have so many traditions in the Pacific Islands. One of my favorite
traditions is Kemem. A Kemem is a celebration of a child's first birthday. This tradition has
been going on since forever and participating in this tradition is a way of showing appreciation to
God for the gift of a new life. A Kemem is a beautiful and important tradition for all Marshallese
people. Having a Kemem gets family members from both sides of the family to interact with
each other. You can have a Kemem anywhere, a church, your house, a backyard, a front yard,
venues, or a park. When you plan a Kemem, you plan ahead and invite all of your friends and
family from the parents' side.
On my niece's first birthday, February 15, 2023, we had her Kemem. We celebrated it at
our church. The day before the big day, we went to decorate. The place was very pretty with the
