When the islanders die, their spirits sail to Kibu at sunset with the prevailing winds” (Cordell, John). So, the ultimate goal of the islanders is to send the spirit of the deceased to Kibu by performing all these rituals and ceremonies. In order for the spirit to reach Kibu, the family must perform the tombstone opening ceremony (no graves are actually opened). In-laws are usually the ones who receive an engraved headstone that the family can unveil during this ceremony. All of these practices are just some of the things required for a deceased spirit to exist