Accessibility in the Marshall Islands: Travellers with Disabilities, Wheelchair Access & More

Accessibility at Amata Kabua International Airport (MAJ) is basic but functional. The compact terminal is relatively easy to navigate, with wheelchair ramps at key entrances and staff available to provide physical assistance when required.

There are no jet bridges, so passengers board and leave aircraft from the tarmac. A boarding ramp and aisle chairs are available, although travellers who cannot use these safely may need additional help transferring between their wheelchair and aircraft seat.

Any assistance you require should be arranged directly through your airline rather than the airport. Contact the airline as early as possible, explain exactly what support you need and reconfirm the arrangements before travelling (this is not the place for a “she’ll be right” approach).

Mobility Assistance with Nauru Airlines

On our last visit, we noticed Nauru Airlines offers decent mobility assistance procedures and can assist passengers between their mobility aids and aircraft seats. Passengers can usually surrender a mobility aid at check-in or the departure gate, while two pieces of eligible mobility equipment may be carried free of charge in addition to the standard checked baggage allowance.

Be aware that onboard wheelchairs are not available on Nauru Airlines flights. Cabin crew may assist passengers walking to and from the aircraft toilet, but they cannot lift passengers, so travellers requiring this level of support should fly with a companion or carer.

Mobility Assistance with United Airlines

United Airlines allows travellers to request wheelchair assistance while booking or afterwards through their online portal. Manual airport wheelchairs and narrow aisle chairs are available, while aircraft carry an onboard wheelchair that can be used to reach the lavatory.

Personal wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, canes and crutches can be checked free of charge in addition to the standard baggage allowance. Tell the airline about your mobility device before travelling, provide its dimensions and battery type and attach written handling instructions to the chair. Cabin crew can help you reach your seat, access hand luggage and open food or drinks, but they cannot assist inside the bathroom, administer medication or feed passengers. Travellers unable to leave the aircraft independently during an emergency should travel with a companion or carer.

Anecdotally, Nauru Airlines tends to receive more reassuring feedback for mobility assistance than United Airlines, despite having less "budget" to play with. However, service can vary between individual flights and ground-handling teams. Whichever airline you choose, request assistance when booking, arrive early and confirm that your wheelchair dimensions, battery type and transfer requirements have been recorded correctly.

Learn more about what to expect from the Marshall Islands' airports in our guide, Marshall Islands Arrival Airports Guide.

Plus, learn more about RMI's local airline in Domestic Flights in the Marshall Islands: A Guide to Interisland Flights.

Accessible accommodation is limited in Majuro, with neither of these hotels offering a fully wheelchair-accessible room. Travellers should contact the property directly before booking and request ground-floor rooms.

Marshall Islands Resort

One of Majuro’s largest and best-known hotels, Marshall Islands Resort is the more practical of the city’s main accommodation options for wheelchair users, although it is not fully accessible.

A ramp leads to reception, but there is a sizeable step between the road and the start of the ramp. The hotel has no lift, so request one of the many ground-floor rooms when booking. Rooms come in "Single", "Double" and "Suite" categories, all with ensuite bathrooms, although the bathrooms are small and there are no dedicated wheelchair-accessible rooms.

The Enra Restaurant has a larger toilet cubicle with a grab rail in at least the women’s bathroom.

Other facilities include free WiFi, laundry service, a bakery, spa, market, airport transfers, SUV hire and a dive shop.

Hotel Robert Reimers

Hotel Robert Reimers offers 37 rooms ranging from "Economy Rooms" to a "Bungalow Suite", but wheelchair users should expect a few small access barriers.

The "Economy Rooms" are downstairs, while the higher-category "Bungalow Suites" provide another possible ground-floor option. However, the rooms have small steps, so most wheelchair users will need assistance from a travel companion.

A very long wheelchair ramp leads to the upper-floor Tide Table Restaurant and Lounge. The gradient and distance are manageable in a powered wheelchair, but could be exhausting for a manual wheelchair user or anyone pushing without plenty of strength (consider it Majuro’s answer to leg day).

The hotel also offers paid WiFi, same-day laundry, car hire and excursions to Eneko Island. Before booking, ask staff to describe the exact number and height of steps leading to the available room.

For more details about each accommodation, head to Where to Stay in the Marshall Islands: 15 Best Accommodations.

Getting around Majuro can be a mixed experience for wheelchair users. The island has no pavements, so you will often need to travel along the roadside, where traffic, parked vehicles and narrow spaces can make things awkward.

The biggest challenge is simply space. Majuro is a long, narrow island, so streets, shops, restaurants and hotel rooms tend to be compact, with little room for wide entrances or accessible bathrooms.

Wheelchair Access to Shops and Public Buildings in Majuro

That said, many buildings have ramps and there is plenty of flat concrete around town. You can even reach parts of the waterfront without crossing sand or rough terrain, which makes enjoying the lagoon views much easier than you might expect.

Across Majuro, ramps are more common than accessible toilets. Many cafés, shops and public buildings can be entered with some assistance, but bathrooms are often small and may lack grab rails or enough turning space for a wheelchair.

Accessibility at the NAPA Building and MIMRA Buildings

Newer buildings such as the NAPA and MIMRA buildings have designated accessible parking and lifts; the only public lifts in the country.

The NAPA Building is particularly worth visiting because it is home to Toeak Bar & Grill on the fifth floor.

Wheelchair Access to Toeak Bar & Grill

Toeak Bar & Grill serves a crowd-pleasing mix of American classics, Hawaiian-inspired plates and Mexican dishes. Popular choices include the "Hawaiian BBQ Mix Plate", the enormous "Clubhouse Sandwich" and a solid selection of tacos, while poke, sashimi, pizza, ramen, yakisoba and wraps provide plenty more to consider.

Toeak Bar & Grill is open from 11 am to 9:30 pm Monday to Saturday, and noon to 9:30 pm Sunday. Sports screens usually show basketball, the Marshall Islands’ favourite sport, with baseball becoming increasingly popular too.

When we visited, we recall a possible step at the building entrance and a heavy door leading into the restaurant. Both should be manageable with assistance, but it is worth calling ahead if you are travelling alone.

For more details and restaurants to try, check out the 15 Best Restaurants in Majuro & the Marshall Islands.

Accessible Car Hire in Majuro

Transport is another area where planning helps. Some car rental companies offer SUVs with enough boot space for a folding wheelchair, although there are no specially adapted rental vehicles with ramps, lifts or hand controls.

Check out your rental options in the 5 Best Car Rentals in Majuro & the Marshall Islands.

Wheelchair Access in Majuro Taxis

Most taxis are standard saloon cars. A folding wheelchair may fit in the boot, but larger or powered chairs are unlikely to fit, so confirm the vehicle size before arranging a ride.

Learn more about local transport in The Guide to Taxis in the Marshall Islands.

Majuro’s attractions are not purpose-built for accessibility, but several can still be enjoyed with a travel companion and a little forward planning. Contact activity providers beforehand, explain your mobility requirements and ask about steps, surfaces, toilets and transfers.

Below are a few suggestions but take a look at the 30 Best Things to Do on Majuro to get the full picture.

Alele Museum and Public Library

The Alele Museum and Public Library is one of the easiest places to begin exploring Marshallese history. Entry and guided tours are free, with displays covering traditional tools, navigation charts, outrigger canoes, woven jaki-ed mats and the islands’ nuclear history.

The main accessibility challenge is the narrow corridor between displays. It may be difficult to navigate with a large mobility scooter or powered wheelchair, but it should be more manageable in a standard manual wheelchair.

Ask staff whether exhibits can be viewed in a different order if turning space becomes limited. The museum also houses the country’s public library and National Archive, making it a rewarding stop even if you cannot reach every corner.

Location: Uliga, Majuro. Beside the RMI Courthouse and across the road from Toeak Bar & Grill, with the museum behind the roadside building.

Japanese Peace Park

The Japanese Peace Park combines wartime history with welcome shade from some of Majuro’s largest preserved trees. Its memorial was built in 1984 to honour those who died in the islands and seas of the East Pacific during World War Two.

Concrete seating surrounds the memorial, while its roadside position makes this a relatively straightforward stop for travellers who do not want to venture far from their vehicle.

It is a peaceful place to pause during the drive to Laura (and shade is worth its weight in gold on a sunny Majuro afternoon).

Location: Lagoon Road, Majuro. Approximately 1.7 mi (2.7 km) west of the airport runway on the road towards Laura.

Laura Beach

At the western end of Majuro, Laura Beach offers white sand, lagoon views, picnic areas, shade, showers and toilets. There is a small entrance fee paid in cash at the gate.

The beach itself is sandy, so standard wheelchairs and mobility scooters will struggle beyond the entrance area, but the ground is compact enough with beach views (under the shade) when you're not directly on shore.

You can still enjoy the scenery, picnic areas and unusual old aircraft without swimming. Do not assume the toilets are wheelchair accessible.

Location: Lagoon Road, Laura, western end of Majuro. Follow the main road west until it ends at the beach entrance.

More Majuro Sights Visible from the Roadside

Several cultural and historical landmarks can be included in an accessible driving tour, allowing you to see them from the vehicle or make a brief roadside stop:

• LiModrel’s Well, a historical freshwater site in Wōja with an interpretation panel
• Jikin Jekjek Wa Eṇ, marking the legendary place where Ļetao carved outrigger canoes
• Jikin Keepen, featuring a colourful mural about the giant Tōl̗tōl̗ipāān
• Cathedral of the Assumption, Majuro’s most striking church, located directly along the main road
• Bōkjānwūt, a cultural sign and mural near the showers and toilets at Laura Beach

These roadside sites are modest rather than polished visitor attractions, but they add stories and context to the drive across the atoll. Learn more in Sightseeing in Majuro: Top 10 Sights on Majuro.