MARSHALL ISLANDS. Traditional crafts, including the weaving of coconut palm leaves for a variety of goods, are still widely practiced in the Marshall Islands. People here have grown up believing that they can live their lives in relative safety, as the islands do not historically suffer from the harsh weather of other areas. However, this sense of security and the islanders' traditional way of life are now in jeopardy as a result of rising sea levels and tidal surges. 2004.