The first structured government of the Island of Pohnpei was the Saudeleur , Lord of the immediate area, Dynasty which ruled from around 500 to 1450AD. Rule was maintained by one man, the Saudeleur, who granted the use of the ruling class property to a middle class who, in turn, oversaw the peasants. The middle class and peasants were required to pay tribute to the Saudeleur. Pohnpei was divided into three states, during the reign of Saudeleur Mwohnmwei. These being Kohpwahlele (Madolenihmw), Kohpwahleng (Kitti) and, Pwahpwahlik (Sokehs).

Later on in the Dynasty, two more states were added; U and Nett, which made up the present day five municipalities of Pohnpei. Land in the traditional Saudeleur society was owned by the sole ruler. This traditional ruler leased the land to landlords who oversaw the peasants harvesting the land. The peasants were required to pay the 'Saudeleur' a regular tribute, usually consisting of fruit and fish. This tradition continues today at funerals and celebrations. The ruler (later called the nahnmwarki) was considered to be sacred, speaking only to the Nahnken. The Nahnken served as an intermediary between the ruler and his public.

According to island legend, the Saudeleur Dynasty began with the arrival of the two brothers Olisihpa and Olosohpa, who arrived on Pohnpei Island in search of a place to build an altar so that they could worship Nahnisohn Sahpw, the God of Agriculture. The two brothers successfully built an altar at Nan Madol, where they performed their religious rituals. When Olisihpa died, Olosohpa became the first Saudeleur, or lord of the area in which Nan Madol is located.

There is evidence of human activity as early as the first century AD. This gradually became more and more centralised. By the end of the Eighth century, construction of the islet had started, though archaeologists believe that the megalithic structures were not begun until the Twelfth Century.

It is thought that the separate City that was built on the islets was to keep the nobility of Pohnpei apart from the common folk who would have lived on the mainland. The major population centre was on the other side of the Island and it is from here that the great stone slabs used in Nan Madol's construction came from.

Nan Madol was populated by no more than 1,000 people, whilst the island's entire population was thought to have been around the 24,000 mark. Nan Madol served, in part, as a means by which the ruling Saudeleur chiefs both organized and controlled potential rivals by requiring them to live in the city rather than in their home districts, where their activities were difficult to monitor.

The last of the island's Saudeleur was subjugated by Isokelekel, who took control of the land and established his base too at Nan Madol. It was Isokelekel who took the title 'Nahnmwarki'. By the time of the first European arrivals, Nan madol had been abandoned.

Explores the astonishing array of megalithic ruins found in the South Pacific, including the Latte Stones of the Marianas, the menhirs of Paulau, the megalithic canal city on Kosrae Island, and the ever-mysterious Nan Madol on Pohnpei Island. Childress researched Nan Madol to discover that it contains over 250 million tons of basalt columns strewn, partially submerged, over an 11 square mile area of artificial islands. Strange underwater buildings of this incredible city are found at 80 feet. Local legends insist the huge volcanic rocks, weighing up to 50 tons each, were levitated into place by mysterious island ancestors.

Today Nan Madol forms an archaeological area covering more than 18 square kilometres and includes the stone structural design built up on a coral reef flat along the Shore of Temwen Island, several other artificial islets, and the neighbouring mainland coastline. The centre of the site with its stone walls encloses an area approximately one and a half kilometres long by half a kilometre wide and it contains close to 100 artificial islets - stone and coral fill platforms - bordered by tidal canals.

Research indicates that the erection of Nan Madol began around 1200AD, while recent excavations show that the area may have been occupied as early as 200BC. Some possible quarry sites around the island have been identified, but the exact origin of the stones of Nan Madol is yet to be certain. None of the proposed quarry sites exist in Madolenihmw, meaning that the stones must have been transported to their current location.

It has been suggested that they might have been floated via raft from the quarry, but this is no means certain. Archaeologists have yet to untangle the mystery, and some modern Pohnpeians believe the stones were flown to the island by use of magic. However, a short dive between the island and the quarries shows a trail of dropped stones.

Organising a trip to the Island of Pohnpei is not the easiest thing in the World to do. This does not mean it is impossible though!

The best place to find a flight to Pohnpei is through Travelocity. Their search engine is easy to use and I have never had any problems myself.




Hotels.com is my favoured website for accommodation and has a very good search engine which finds the best deals for you based on your needs and hotel suitability.




Pohnpei is more popular with Japanese and Taiwanese tour groups and you will not see that many other western tourists. That said, many US citizens still work in the Federated States of Micronesia.

Tours from the resorts along the northern coast to the ruins of Nan Madol in the south are always available and you shouldn't have any problems finding a guide.