Our Story
A Private Island, Passed Down Through Generations
Born from a family vision for a simple, sustainable island getaway, Bokanbotin Island Resort has become a quiet sanctuary embraced by tropical foliage, gentle lagoon waters, and vibrant marine life. The island has belonged to Sherwood's family for generations, an islet in Majuro Atoll handed down long before it ever welcomed a guest, and it is still cared for the way family land is cared for: personally, and with the long view in mind.
Today, Sherwood and Emma run it together, and they're excited to share a growing selection of curated services designed to help guests experience the island's beauty in meaningful, memorable ways.
"As a family‑owned business, we’re committed to our community and to the growth of the Marshall Islands' tourism industry. It is our honor to share this island with you. We hope you’ll come to appreciate it, love it as we do, and help care for it along the way."
~Owners, Sherwood & Emma
How Bokanbotin Began
Bokanbotin was never meant to be a resort. In 2015, Emma, who holds a degree in marine science, set out to protect the island's reef and convinced Sherwood's father to designate the surrounding waters a Marine Protected Area. There was no business plan at the time, just a belief that this reef was worth safeguarding.
What began as a quiet, protected islet slowly opened up. The family started offering it as a picnic island, a place where locals could spend a day by the water. Word spread, the days turned into stays, and over time, the picnic island grew into what Bokanbotin is now: the first private island resort of its kind in Majuro, the capital of the Marshall Islands.
A Reef Worth Protecting
The reef off your doorstep is healthy, alive, and largely untouched, the kind of water that is getting harder to find anywhere in the Pacific. Snorkel off the beach, and you will share it with blacktip reef sharks, giant clams, and coral that has been left to thrive. The reef was protected years before there was ever a resort, and that order of priorities is still the heart of the place.
Welcomed Like Family
The thing guests remember most is the welcome. Sherwood and Emma greet every guest personally, and the goal is simple: we want you to feel at home from the moment you arrive.
What makes a stay here different is the warmth and trust behind it. We look after guests the way we would look after family, and most people feel it right away. With only a handful of guests on the island at a time, the attention is genuine and personal, and people settle in quickly and leave happy.
Our Mission
To set a new standard for eco-luxury island experience through refined service, effortless comfort, and genuine environmental stewardship.
Our Vision
A future where Marshallese hospitality uplifts our people, protects our ocean home, and welcomes travelers into a place of renewal and cultural pride.
About the Name
Bokanbotin is an indigenous Marshallese name, and while we're unsure of its exact meaning, the reading we like best splits it into two words, bokan (tip) and botin (nose), the tip of the nose.
Come Stay With Us
Bokanbotin is family land with a protected reef and a welcome that feels like home, all on a private islet a short boat ride from Majuro. We would love to share it with you. Reserve your stay and come see what makes this place different.