Maybe this site will explain one of the reasons for inundation...

Maybe this site will explain one of the reasons for inundation of land in Kirabati.

http://sealevel.jpl.nasa.gov/science/enso97/el_nino_1997.html

This phenomena is incredible to see. I have seen the sea level east of Bougainville drop by up to two meters, and remain at low levels for several weeks. At the same time, areas on the NW coast of South America were being flooded due to sea level rise.

Having visited Kirabati several times and traveled to the remotest of the islands, I can assure you that it is no tropic island paradise.