Current Time in MarshallIslands
Culture of time in the Marshall Islands
Culture of time in the Marshall Islands
Time zone is Marshall Islands Time (MHT, UTC+12)
The Marshall Islands uses Marshall Islands Time (UTC+12) throughout the country. Daylight saving time is not observed, and the time is constant throughout the year. This is the same time zone as parts of neighboring Kiribati.
A sense of time in harmony with nature
Many residents are engaged in traditional fishing and agriculture, and their sense of time is based on the movement of the sun and the tides. The general cycle is to start activities at sunrise and return home at sunset.
Coexistence of official schedules and "island time"
Time management is relatively strict in urban government offices and schools, but a relaxed sense of time called "island time" is deeply rooted in daily life and local events.
Values regarding time in the Marshall Islands
"Slowness" is the rhythm of life
In the Marshall Islands, people prefer to do things slowly and without rushing. There is no culture of blaming others for not doing things on time, and the value of respecting the pace of others is widespread.
Emphasis on time with family and community
There is a culture that values connections with people, and people tend to prioritize conversation and interaction even if their plans are slightly off. They place more importance on "spending time together" than on time.
Many people are aware of the gap with foreign sense of time
Western-style time management is adopted in school education and business, and the younger generation in particular lives with awareness of both "global sense of time" and "island time."
Things foreigners should know about time when traveling or relocating to the Marshall Islands
Public institutions tend to be punctual
Visitors should be careful not to be late, as government-related tasks such as visa procedures and applications for official documents are operated on time.
It is important to have some leeway in your schedule in daily life
There is a culture where people do not mind being late for appointments, so you need to be flexible when meeting up with local people. Tours and events may also start later than scheduled.
Be aware of fluctuations in departure times when traveling between islands
Air and ship operations are subject to change depending on the weather and local conditions, and it is not uncommon for them to not run on time. Be sure to leave some leeway in your travel plans.
Fun facts about time in the Marshall Islands
The entire country uses one time zone
Despite being made up of a large number of islands, the Marshall Islands use the same UTC+12 for all regions. This is the result of prioritizing the unification of time within the country.
Military time sign remaining at former World War II base
Some historical facilities still have military time signs and sirens used by the US military, which still affect the rhythm of life of some residents.
Life and sense of time surrounded by coral reefs
For the Marshallese people, who live with the sea, information about high and low tide times is essential to their lives. Because it would interfere with fishing and navigation, they continue to live according to the rhythm of the sea.