Nan Madol-The Legend

One day an unfamiliar canoe landed on Pohnpei with two brothers aboard. Ohlosihpa and Ohlosohpa came from the far West in order to build a religious and administrative center on this island.

They came upon a great rock, Paipalap, which seemed an ideal location for their sacred place. So the brothers Ohlosihpa and Ohlosohpa prayed at the base of Paipalap, and asked the spirits to allow them to work there.

They began splitting rocks, laying them down for a foundation, and piling them up to build walls. The “sanctuary” began to take shape, but due to the strong wind and waves, the

Paipalap or Sokehs Rock

brothers decided this site was not suitable. It was obvious a new location would be needed for this “holy place.”

Ohlosihpa and Ohlosohpa moved to a new spot and tried again, but were once again unsuccessful. Still the brothers did not give up and made attempts in several places. Finally they decided to try a location on the southeast of the island, where, beneath the sea, lay the sacred city of Kanihmweiso.

The brothers prayed fervently and worked untiringly, but the tide was too strong and a foundation could not be layed. Nevertheless, they continued to pray and never lost hope. The islanders watched Ohlosihpa and Ohlosohpa and wanted very much to help them.

One day a man from Sokehs arrived on a magical rock to assist with the project. Using his magic, he turned his rock into a foundation that protected the area from the destructive power of the ocean. And soon men from all over Pohnpei gathered at the shore to work and pray together. They united as one, praying loudly as if they had been waiting for this moment.

Their voices began to sound like a song and it filled the air. The power of their song penetrated the skies. They were able to pile huge pillars of basalt along the shore and create the foundation for Nan Madol. The brothers and the islanders cooperated and constructed an entire sanctuary made of stone.

People continued to help the two brothers and thereby learned to fear and respect them. They constructed several other buildings and learned to worship in this “holy place.”

Ohlosihpa, the elder brother,died without witnessing the completion of NanMadol, but the younger Ohlosohpa remained and became a king. He, himself, was called Saudeleur and established the Saudeleur Dynasty on Pohnpei.

This article taken from the "Pohnpei Ecotourism Travel Guide" published by the Pohnpei Visitors Bureau, 2003.

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