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Traditional Polities of Federated States of Micronesia

Kosrae: Kosrae - Pohnpei: Kitti - Madolenihmw - Mwoakilloa - Net - Pingelap - Sapwuahfik - Sokehs - U - Kapingamarangi: Kapingamarangi -

Note: The principal islands (corresponding to the current states of the federation) are: Pohnpei (formerly Ponape), Kosrae (formerly Kusaie), Yap (Wa'ab in Yapese), and Chuuk (formerly Truk). This record deals mainly with Pohnpei, although at the end is included Kapingamarangi, a lone Polynesian island in the Federated States of Micronesia (presently part of Pohnpei state).

Kosrae

[Kosrae (Kusaie) state flag (Micronesia)]
Adopted 30 Jul 1981

1946                       Chieftainship abolished.

Chiefs (title Tokosra; posthumously Awane)
c.1800                     Sa I
18.. - 18..                Likiak
18.. - 18..                Na I
c.1824                     Salik I
18.. - 18..                Sru I
1835 - 1837                Sru II
1837 - 1854                Lepalik I "Good King George"       (d. 1854)
1854 - Sep 1856            Sru III                            (d. 1856)
1856 - 1858                Oa                                 (d. 1858)
1858 - 1863                Lepalik II                         (d. 1863)
1863 - Oct 1874            Salik II
1874 - 1880                Sru IV
1880 - 1888                Sru V                              (d. 1888)
1890                       Lepalik III                        (d. 1890)
1890 - 1910                Sa II
1910 - 1946                Na II "King John"                  (b. 1875 - d. 1957)

Pohnpei

The legendary name of the polity is Deleur, and its ruler was styled Sau Deleur. The last Sau Deleur was overthrown by Isohkelekel, who founded the first of the five traditional states: Madolenihmw, U (also spelled Uh), Kitti, Sokehs, and Nett (also spelled Net). The ruler of each of these states is styled Nahnmwarki, though each state has a special alternate title that is used to refer to the Nahnmwarki of that particular area. The names beginning with Luhken- are so-called edenpwel (burial names). Pingelap, Sapwuahfik, and Mwoakilloa are outer islands of the present Pohnpei state. 

Madolenihmw

[Madolenihmw municipality (Pohnpei, Micronesia)]

Chief (title Sau Deleur)
.... - 1628?               San Memuo [last Sau Deleur]
Chiefs (title Nahnmwarki, alternate title Isipau)
1628? - ....               Isohkelekel "the Liberator" 
                             [first chief]
.... - ....                Nahlepenien
.... - ....                Luhken Mweimour
.... - ....                Nahluhken Nahnsapwe
.... - ....                Nahluhken Sounpwong
.... - ....                Nahluhken Nahr
.... - ....                Luhken Malada
.... - ....                Luhken Peidoh
.... - ....                Luhken Usendau
.... - ....                Luhken Weid
.... - ....                Luhken Ned
.... - ....                Luhken Nen
.... - ....                Luhken Mwer
.... - ....                Luhkenleng Iso
.... - 1836                Luhken Kasik                       (d. 1836)
1836 - Sep 1854            Luhken Kidu                        (d. 1854)
Sep 1854 -  5 Jun 1855     Luhken Mweiu                       (d. 1855)
1855 - 1872                Lukhen Ngar
 1872 - 1896                Paul                               (d. 1896)
 1896 - 1898                Hezekiah
1898 - 1928                Solomon                            (d. 1928)
 1928 - 1931                Alexander
1932 - 19 Feb 1966         Moses Hadley                       (b. 1894 - d. 1966)
 1966 - 15 Aug 1980         Samuel Hadley (Isipahu)            (b. 1909 - d. 1980)
21 Aug 1980 - 31 May 1990  Salter Salvador Hadley             (b. 1923? - d. 1990)
31 May 1990 - 10 Sep 2004  Ilten Shelten                      (b. .... - d. 2004)
11 Sep 2004 - Nov 2008     Koisimy Hadley                     (b. .... - d. 2008)
Nov 2008 - 16 Aug 2020     Kerpet Hebel                       (b. 1949 - d. 2020)
16 Aug 2020 -              Herbert Hebel

U

[U municipality (Pohnpei, Micronesia)]

Chiefs (title Nahnmwarki, alternate title Sangoro)
.... - ....                Nahlepenien
.... - ....                Nahnkepwei
.... - ....                Luhken Nen
.... - ....                Luhken Kidu
.... - ....                Luhken Wos
.... - ....                Luhken Sihr
.... - ....                Luhken Mwei U
.... - ....                Luhken Mwei Mwahu
.... - ....                Luhken Sakon
.... - ....                Esekaia
.... - ....                Moses
.... - ....                William
 .... - ....                Eluit (Elwet)
1953? - 1959               Edmond (Edmont)
30 May 1959 - 30 Sep 1991  Johnny Moses                       (b. 1900? - d. 1991)
 1 Oct 1991 - 21 Oct 1992  Frederick Kihleng
22 Oct 1992 -  7 Aug 1994  Paul J. Benjamin                   (b. 1913? - d. 1994)
Aug 1994 -  3 Nov 1999     Manasa Hedgar                      (b. 1931 - d. 1999)
 4 Nov 1999 - 2003?        Welter John                        (b. 1931)
Apr 2013 -  9 Dec 2020     Pedro Moses                        (b. 1937 - d. 2020)
Dec 2020 -                 Paulino David

Kitti

[Kitti municipality (Pohnpei, Micronesia)]

Chiefs (title Nahnmwarki, alternate title Soukiseleng)
c.1840 - 1852              Luhkenmweimwahu (Penena)           (d. 1852)
 1852 - 18..                Hezekiah
 .... - ....                Mikel (Mensile)
.... - 19..                Paul
19.. - 19..                Sigismundo
1965? - 1968               Benito
1968 - Sep 1972            Albert Domsin                      (b. 1914? - d. 1972)
 1972 -  1 Feb 1992         Benido Peter                       (b. 1929 - d. 1992)
199. -  8 Oct 1996         Weldemar Thomson                   (d. 1996)
1996 -  9 Oct 1997         Ropohl Luhk                        (b. 1935 - d. 1997)
1997 -  4 May 2000         Bernard Ioakim                     (d. 2000)
2000 - Jul? 2014           Alter Paul                         (b. 1927 - d. 2014)
 7 Jul 2014 - 28 Jan 2025  Gregorio Peter                     (b. 1947 - d. 2025)
29 Jan 2025 -              Sadorino Martin  

Sokehs

[Sokehs municipality (Pohnpei, Micronesia)]

17 Oct 1910 - 23 Feb 1911  Rebellion against German rule in Micronesia. After suppression 
                             of the rebellion, the Germans remove all the inhabitants to
                             Palau and Yap until they are returned between 1917 and 1927.

Chiefs (title Nahnmwarki, alternate title Lepen Palikir or Nahnpwutak Pikeniap)
c.1875                     Keimw Sapwasap
.... - ....                Luhken Pwoud
c.1887                     Francisco
17 Oct 1910 - 23 Feb 1911  Somatau                            (b. 18.. - d. 1911)
                            (head of the rebellion against German colonial power)
1925 - 19..                David Hadley
19.. - 193.                Diego Rasa                         (d. 193.)
1934 - 14 Jul 1972         Kalio Artui                        (b. 1908 - d. 1972)
1972 - 17 Jun 1995         Ioanis Artui                       (b. 1933? - d. 1995)
 Jun 1995 -                 Herculano C. Kohler                (b. 1941)

Nett

[Nett municipality (Pohnpei, Micronesia)]

Chiefs (title Nahnmwarki, alternate titles [Pwoud] Lepen Nett, Mwohnsapw Nett)
c.1875                     Keim Sapwasap
191.?                      Nicholas
19.. - 19..                Kalisto
19.. - 19..                Eduardo
19.. - 1946                Saturlino
1946 - 25 Aug 1977         Max Iriarte                        (b. 1911 - d. 1977)
1977 - 26 Jan 1994         Frederick Iriarte                  (b. 1912 - d. 1994)
1994 - 16 Oct 1996         Ioanis Iriarte                     (b. 1945 - d. 1996)
1996 - 18 Jun 2005         Constantino Oyama                  (b. 1922 - d. 2005)
19 Jun 2005 -  2 May 2009  Paulino Iriarte                    (b. 1926 - d. 2009)
2010 - 20 Jun 2013         Higinio Weirlangt                  (b. 1931 - d. 2013)
2013 -  7 Aug 2022         Benedict Hallens                   (b. 1936 - d. 2022)
 8 Aug 2022 -              Lorenso I. Shoniber

Pingelap  

[Pingelap municipality (Pohnpei, Micronesia)]

....                       Pikelap renamed Pingelap.

Chiefs (title Nahnmwarki, alternate title Doahkaesa)
 .... - ....                Iengir sang Eir [1st ruler]
.... - ....                Kaupene
.... - ....                Pakispok
.... - ....                Inenikas
.... - ....                Mwungesamorou
.... - ....                Sahu en Welang
.... - ....                Saue
.... - ....                Naniok
.... - ....                Mesou
.... - ....                Sahu Naduara
.... - ....                Mwaseudue
.... - ....                Mwanokasa
.... - ....                Widinenek
.... - ....                Mwakadue
.... - ....                Widinenek
.... - ....                Ikohkepel
.... - ....                Semenuhwe
.... - ....                Mwahuele              
c.1789 - c.1813            Mwanenised
c.1813 - c.1822            Wadekpene
c.1822 - c.1870            Okonomwaun
1870 - 1881                Iengiringer (= Salomon)            (d. 1881)
1881 - 1924                Sapwenpar (= Napoleon Bishop)      (d. 1924)
1924 - 1964                Dicksalomon                        (d. 1964)
1964 - 1981                Dens Salomon                       (b. 1916 - d. 1981)
1981 - 15 Nov 2005         Yukiwo Salomon                     (b. 1940 - d. 2005)
200. - 200.                Isauo Frank
200. - 23 Aug 2008         Denson Salomon                     (b. 1948? - d. 2008)
20.. -                     Berysin D. Salomon                 (b. 1949)

Sapwuahfik

[Sapwuahfik municipality (Pohnpei, Micronesia)]

18 Oct 1985                Ngatik renamed Sapwuahfik.

Chiefs (title Nahnmwarki, alternate title Peiweilong)
.... - ....                Aisikaya
.... - ....                Nahior
.... - ....                Werek
.... - 197.                Ahti                               (d. 197.)
197. - ....                Seneres Nason
2015? - 2020               Winson Paul                        (b. 1949 - d. 2020)
2020 -                     ....

Mwoakilloa

[Mwoakilloa municipality (Pohnpei, Micronesia)]

 5 Jun 1987                Mokil renamed Mwoakilloa.

Kings
1777 - 1790                Lakaidak                           (d. 1790)
1790 - 1809                Lajapwoa                           (d. 1809)
1809 - 1825                Wasetip                            (d. 1825)
1825 - 1832                Lejemoahj                          (d. 1832)
1832 - 1838                Sinipwoa                           (d. 1838)
1840 - 1842                Watakwa                            (d. 1842)
1842 - 1843                Lalawa                             (d. 1843)
1843 - 1845                Nohjua                             (d. 1845)
1845 - 1869                Lemjoruj                           (d. 1869)
1869 - 1879                Jarkiben                           (d. 1879)
1879 - 1884                Mahk                               (d. 1884)
1884 - 1890                Jakraihaj (= Sakaraiaz)            (d. 1890)
1890 - 1892                Ayjak (= Isaac)                    (d. 1892)
1892 - 1902                Piza (= Peter)                     (d. 1902)
1902 - 1904                Sakoyba (= Poll)                   (d. 1904)
1904 - 1941                Joel                               (d. 1941)
1941 - 1957                August                             (d. 1957)
1957 - 1984                None
1984 - 14 Oct 1990         Sahn Johnson (Nahnmwarki)          (b. 1924 - d. 1990)
14 Oct 1990 -              None


Kapingamarangi

[Kapingamarangi municipality (Pohnpei, Micronesia)]

Chiefs (title Ariki)
.... - ....                Tukia 
.... - ....                Rangatau
.... - ....                Kaukau
.... - ....                Inaina
.... - ....                Heriri
.... - ....                Rongotapu
.... - ....                Tuira
.... - ....                Tikioto
.... - ....                Hakatautai
.... - ....                Takame-ara
.... - ....                Mihe
.... - ....                Takataka
.... - ....                Tairot
.... - ....                Inatua
.... - ....                Hoira
.... - ....                Petok
.... - ....                Taurakina
.... - ....                Makiatia
Chiefs (title Tangata e Putu Tana Henua; from 1910, Kingi)
.... - ....                Makiatia
.... - c.1860              Takahihi
c.1860 - c.1870            Tikoro "Totonu"
c.1870 - 18..              Hakana?
18.. - 18..                Hakapeke
18.. - 18..                Wekeia
18.. - c.1880              Poiaka
c.1880 - 18..              Hakana
18.. - c.1890              Maehua
c.1890 - 1922              Tawehi (= Tikepa)
1922 - 1927                Atiuro
1927 - 1929                Hetapuae
1929 - 10 Dec 1949         Deved                              (d. 1949)
                             (= Tiararua, then Tepiha)
1949 - 1954?               Tuiai
1997? - ....               Andrew Lucky
.... - Oct 2024            Yostaro David                      (b. 1939 - d. 2024)






© Ben Cahoon