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Jan Erik Johnsen | profile | all galleries >> Federated States of Micronesia 2006 >> Pohnpei (Ponape) 2 tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Pohnpei (Ponape) 2

"The garden island of Micronesia"
Pohnpei is the largest of the islands in FSM. The capital, Palikir and the only "real" town in FSM, Kolonia is located here.
Pohnpei is one of the wettest places on the planet, and as a result it also is one of the greenest and lushest places I have ever seen.
There are no beaches on the main island (mostly mangroves), but with more than 40 waterfalls there should be no problem finding a place to cool down in the tropical heat.
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Framtidsvisjon
Framtidsvisjon		 Silhouette
Silhouette		 Sokehs Island
Sokehs Island		 Spanish Wall/baseballfield
Spanish Wall/baseballfield
Kolonia
Kolonia		 4th Street
4th Street		 Sokehs Island
Sokehs Island		 Sokehs Rock
Sokehs Rock
Kolonia
Kolonia		 Takatik Island
Takatik Island		 Runway
Runway		 Takeoff
Takeoff
Sokehs
Sokehs		 Kolonia
Kolonia		 Mangroves
Mangroves		 Kolonia Harbour
Kolonia Harbour
Red and yellow flower
Red and yellow flower		 Red and yellow flowers
Red and yellow flowers		 Red flower
Red flower		 Sokehs Rock
Sokehs Rock
Mangroves
Mangroves		 Sokehs Rock
Sokehs Rock		 Sokehs Rock
Sokehs Rock		 A long way from anywhere
A long way from anywhere
Sokehs Mt.
Sokehs Mt.		 House
House		 Bush
Bush

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Jack Petry 19-Sep-2015 03:24
Thanks for posting these. I was a Peace Corps Volunteer here in the mid-1970s and then was there for 4 years with Legal Aid in the early 1980s. I remember when they paved the main street in Kolonia. The road still did not go all the way around the island and more than once I hiked from the end of the road to Medolonihm to the old German Forestry Station in the 1970s. Pohnpei was a great place to live and I miss it to this day. I made a lot of great friends there, drank a lot of sakau and never regretted my decision to go there.
Bruce 05-Sep-2015 18:33
I lived on Pohnpei (Ponape at the time) in 1968-69 at 12 years of age. Best experience a kid could ever have. No paved roads back then and no road around the island. We had to hack our way through the brusch to get to the waterfalls, but oh so worth the effort! I arrived and departed by seaplane--the airport runway was being built out of a mangrove swamp the year I was there. I love going to this site once in awhile to remember. Just hope I get to actually go back some day. Thanks for the pics!
Joe 16-Mar-2015 00:25
I was on CAT team feb to july 1985. I was with the 84th engineers out of schofield brks,HQ ft shafter hawaii.In a word " SURREAL ". I'm the only person drafted in CAT team history.I'm pretty sure because everyone wanted go on these teams and IT was voluntary duty.I did not want to go and unit comamder a colonel gave me a diect order to go or a court marshal.
GERRY 26-Sep-2013 16:59
THANKS FOR THE PICS.I REALLY MISS POHNAPE I HAD THE BEST TIME IN MY LIFE.I WAS ON THE US ARMY CAT TEAM IN 1987.SOMETHING I WELL NEVER FORGET.THE PEOPLE AND THE ISLAND ARE THE BEST.
Kirby Harrison 27-Jun-2013 15:30
I was on Pohnape briefly a long time ago with a U.S. Navy Construction Battalion Civic Action Team helping to extend the roads into the interior and constructing the new airport. I have rarely seen a place so beautiful. Friendly people, good food. I was there when the first flight non-stop from Hawaii landed on the runway we built with the islanders. Crushed coral, it was. I was sitting at the only bar on the island having a warm beer, because the cooler wasn't working, when I heard singing and saw a flat-bed truck coming down the dirt road. The back of the truck was filled with topless girls in grass skirts. I figured something interesting was happening so I grabbed my cameras, ran out behind the truck and the girls pulled me aboard. At the airport, there must have been close to 100 young men and girls dancing and singing to greet the inaugural flight. And I remember diving from the rigging of an inter-island boat, and seeing water so still and clear that even though 12 feet deep, it appeared to be only a few feet. It was, and apparently still is, a most amazing and wonderful place.
queen kihleng 11-Aug-2010 22:58
MISSIN MA ISLAND SO MUJ...SEEIN DES PIX JUS MAKES ME WANNA GO BACK HOME SO BAD...PROUD 2 B AN ISLANDER...NOTHIN LIKE A PIX 2 BRING BACK DA MEMORIES FROM BACK HOME!!!
Aprel Ioanis 25-May-2010 19:34
Beautiful Island i jst want to let u guys know that i miss the island soo nuch.. OHH nd the pics r so pretty and i also enjoy looking at them.. and that i will not stop thinking about the islands..no place like home.
Guest 01-Mar-2010 07:32
Thanks for the pics I was born in ponape raised untill I was 8 n I haven't Ben back since these pics inspire me to go back
Guest 14-Jan-2010 01:28
Thank you for posting these pictures. Been a pleasure looking through them.
Rikua Oshen 08-Dec-2009 20:06
kaselehlie maingko,

i was born in 1978 on the island of Pohnpei. Pohnpei is a great place to visit. Friendly people, touring the historical sites such as-Spanish Wall, the Catholic Ruins, the nan madol ruins, and some Japanese (WWII)guns on Sokehs Mt. Check out the great waterfalls- Do not forget! (this is important) if you ever on the island try the local food; and try the doughnuts and dinner rolls (bread) at Namiki-They make the best! Namiki is pictured 'Kolonia' with the three storey red buildg.....As of now, i live in Honolulu-Alawai Blvd and missing to go back...
Guest 13-Jun-2009 07:29
I am from Pohnpei born jan201960 thank for the pictures I leave in Hawaii now at 6242 A Ibis Ave. Ewa Beach, Hawaii 96706. In Kolonia I leave 5 minutes from the quonset huts on the circle, now they have the town hall and the neth's resident, same area close to the new FSM Telecommunications main office is. During the early communication era a former communications manager situated in dolonier nanpohnmal, I was friend to his kids goes to kolonia elementary school, John and Hellen "Rozack "
Chuck 03-Apr-2009 14:48
I lived on Ponape with my family during the early 70's. I was 12 and 13, went to PICS and explored and enjoyed all the wonders of this beatiful place. My Father ran the radio station during our time there too. The house was brick during our stay. Early teens was a great age to live there, learned to climb a coconut tree like a monkey using palm frons, noosed fresh water shrimp in the streams, tried Sackow, and ate guava's till I could burst. Had many wonderful local friends that I no longer recall their names. I have sice then travelled all over the world for many reasons, and the people of Ponape were by far the most kind I hsve ever known.
Jim Gilmore 31-Oct-2008 14:43
Jim Gilmore, vwcabrio16@aol.com
Jim Gilmore 31-Oct-2008 14:28
My name is Jim Gilmore. I lived with my parents on "Ponape" in 1958 and 1959 when I was six years old. My father operated the radio station and worked for the Dept. of Interior. We lived in a quonset hut across the street for the radio station not too far from Kolonia. I have many fond memories of Pohnpei. Pat Mahoney was my teacher for 1st grade and the Herado's were friends of our family. I remember going to the galley and buying bread and eggs. I wish I could return. I would love to hear from anybody who lives or lived on Pohnpei. I currently work for the City of St. Petersburg, Fl as an Internal Auditor.
Guest 01-Jul-2008 09:03
I loved seeing the pics! I lived on Ponape from 1957 to 1963 - I saw a posting from Glenn Murakami - I was friends with his sisters -would love to reconnect - please email me at hulagrrl1014@sbcglobal.net - Carol Umhoefer Adams
PS - was also friends with Priscilla Castro, and the Dela Rosa kids and my mother was one of the teachers in the quonset hut on "the circle' - my older sister is Sharon Umhoefer Kendall -
Kelley (Tucker) Parker 13-Mar-2008 22:56
Thank you for posting your beautiful photos. My family and I lived in Ponape in the 70's and it was still quite primitive then. It's great to be able to show your site to my friends now and prove to them my stories are real ~ thanks!
atong 15-Jan-2008 01:24
hey thanxs for the pixs,i really miss home and they really have light up my day...
Dinny 25-Sep-2007 12:45
I missed the place so much. I missed it so much I'm going to start saving money now. LoLzD:. I'm in school now so I shouldn't have to worry about that. Kaselel from Omaha, Nebraska.
Dinny 25-Sep-2007 12:42
Oh my god!!
I'm so proud to be a Pohnpeian Pride. No, maybe I should say Islander Pride. LoLz:D..
ora baldwin 22-Jun-2007 22:23
iam from atlanta ga. and what i have seen is the most beautiful place. the land is so ritch and green anybody form ponape should be very very proud so keep up the good work on keeping the land so beautiful. my best friend is from there. her name is rhonda santos.i hope to travel with her very soon. thank you for the pictures.
Glenn Murakami 18-Jun-2007 00:42
Kasalehlia! I lived on Ponape from 1951-1964. My father worked for the Public Works Department and my mother was the Postmaster. My brother and I came to Ponape as young children with my parents, and my three sisters were born there. These pictures take me back to my childhood that to this day I consider the best childhood a child could have! Thank you!!
Loren 18-Apr-2007 03:44
Thank you so much for the pictures. My husband and my grandfather are from Satawan village in Sokehs and i have been wanting to see Pohnpei. I have heard that it is very beautiful! Now i see it is!!
Louis Graham 30-Mar-2007 02:16
Thanks for the pictures. I was born on ponape in '74 and lived there till '83. These pictures bring me back to my childhood. Thanks again, Louis Graham.
Guest 01-Mar-2007 05:35
Thanks for your pictures. I lived in Ponape back in the early 70's and miss it to this day. Oh, the memories. Dave in Wyoming.
Memorina 14-Dec-2006 14:33
Hi,
Thanks for the inspirational pictures of my home. You definately made me miss the beauty of it even more. The Army has made me venture far from home, but it's always so very close in my heart. Thank you again for the beauty I greatly missed.
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