Kolonia: Traces from Three Eras

Kolonia Between Spanish, German, and Japanese History

Kolonia’s historic sites tell stories of different periods of rule, religious traditions, education, and remembrance. They include a Spanish fort, buildings from the German and Japanese periods, and places commemorating specific events. If you’re looking for a hotel in Kolonia, this historical focus may help guide your choice of destination. Each site represents a different period and story.

Fort, Schools, and Buildings from the Japanese Period

Construction of Fort Alphonso XIII began in late 1887 under Spanish rule. The Spanish Wall is a remnant of the fort; its dark stone remains now line a park and ball field in Kolonia. On December 19, 1974, the Spanish Wall was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. It thus connects the history of the fort with its present-day setting among a park and playing field.

The history of the Japanese Elementary School for Pohnpeian Children also spans both eras: the building and grounds lie in an area that would have been enclosed by Fort Alphonso during the Spanish occupation. The school was probably built in 1920 or 1921; the building and grounds are described as significant to two eras in Pohnpei’s recent history. The Chief Agriculturist House was built in the mid-1920s. It is considered one of the finest buildings from the early Japanese period on Pohnpei and significant to the development of Pohnpei and Micronesia.

During Japanese rule, Ponape National School was one of the schools in Kolonia and was attended by Japanese children. Around 1930, Japanese residents’ donations funded the construction of the stone Tanaka Church. During the war, it served the Japanese army as a barracks and warehouse. The Japanese Shrine in Kolonia was built in the early 1920s as a place of prayer and worship. The Japanese Shrine at Town Hall was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on September 30, 1976.

Memorials and Religious Buildings

The Sokehs Mass Grave in Komwonlaid is the burial site of 15 Pohnpeian volunteers. On February 24, 1911, German soldiers rounded them up, shot them, and buried them on top of one another. The site was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on September 30, 1976. The German Cemetery commemorates events from the period of German occupation on Pohnpei. Two German governors are buried there: one died in 1907 on the day he had uncovered the grave of the first king; the other was killed on October 18, 1910.

The Catholic Bell Tower is the largest surviving structure from the German administration in Kolonia and was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on November 25, 1980. A church built by Capuchin missionaries in 1909 during the German period was lost in World War II; its bell tower and brick apse survived. The history of Our Lady of Mercy goes back further: a church dedicated to Our Lady was founded in 1888 during the Spanish period. The present white church was completed in 1953, after the war.

Other Historical Traces

The Japanese Hydro-Electric Power Plant site also contained a German experimental forestry station and once had abundant deposits of flat stones. Stones are also used on Pohnpei in traditional Sakau, or kava, ceremonies; no connection to the stone deposits at this site has been documented. A row of Japanese army tanks stands behind the ACE Hardware store in Kolonia. They were left behind after the Pacific War and gathered there during postwar disarmament; they are believed to be Type 95 light tanks.

The provider describes the History Discovery Tour as a guided way to visit attractions in Kolonia. According to the provider, tours and new bookings are currently suspended; reopening is to be announced. If you’re planning to take this tour, check the provider’s latest information before your trip.

For the broader travel overview: Pohnpei.