Amata Kabua

Who was Amata Kabua?

Amata Kabua was the first President of the Marshall Islands from 1979 to 1996.

Amata Kabua began his career as a school teacher. He was elected to the Congress of Micronesia in 1963 and served one term as its President. After his older brother Joba Kabua died in 1982, Amata Kabua inherited the Iroijlaplap title for Majuro and certain parts of the Ralik Chain of the Marshall Islands. He later bequeathed all authority dealing with land matters to his paternal first cousin Iroij Imata Kabua for the Ralik chan and his maternal cousins Atama Zedkaia and Toej Albertar for Majuro. He later became the first president of the Marshall Islands. He had been a principal participant in the negotiations to gain independence for the Marshall Islands. He wrote the words and music for the national anthem, Forever Marshall Islands.

Kabua is the son of a paramount chief of the Ralik Chain and a paramount chieftain of the Ratak Chain. He died while president, but after a long illness, in Hawaii.