A Liberation Celebration

The week of September 8th is a time for the people of Kosrae to celebrate their liberation from Japanese rule.  It is something like our Fourth of July celebration.  Kosrae has had many different countries who were in control here.  After the Germans had been here for some time the Japanese took over this island during WW1 and stayed in control until the end of WWII when they surrendered to the United States.  The Japanese were in the process of getting rid of all the islanders near the end of WWII  and had rounded up many people to be imprisoned.  In 1945, when the U.S. came and took over all of the islands that had been held by the Japanese, they freed the people and set up the Trust Treaty of the Pacific Islands (TTPI).  The Japanese soldiers were removed from the island. There are still some Kosraens living who can remember what happened at this time.  We have 3 members in our branch who were children at the time the U.S. came and freed them.  The four different municipalities all planned many activities from sports games, canoe races, BBQs, and programs to celebrate this day.  Thursday, Friday and Saturday were set aside for these activities.  



Watching activities and visiting



Our two branches decided that they wanted to also have a celebration of their own.  So on Saturday everyone got together at the Lelu Church where we had a short program, games and activities and plenty of local food to eat.  Pahpah Kurr, who was alive at the time of the liberation, talked  about what he remembered and we were reminded that we should not forget this event in the history of Kosrae.  President Jonathan called upon Elder Wright to see if he wanted to add anything that he could remember about WWII, but he informed him that he was born at the end of WII and didn't participate or remember from first hand any experiences.  





Women serving food in outdoor kitchen



We had a large turn out for this celebration and everyone had a great time.  Many of the ladies worked in the outdoor kitchen of the family who live behind the church preparing and serving the food.  We had local greens, taro, cooked bananas, rice and a vegetable chicken stir fry, and their version of banana pie(yummy).

It was dished up on paper plates and covered with aluminum foil and then carried to those waiting to eat. Every one here eats with their hands because they never use utensils.  We are getting used to eating like the locals. All of the eating and activities were done outside in the back of the church.




Pres. Hadley and his family



Some of the activities that we did were a contest to see who could shell or husk a coconut the fastest.  What a riot it was!  Then they brought out the stools used for shredding coconut.  They are about the size of the old fashioned shoe shine boxes.  Then another contest was held on seeing who could shred coconut the fastest.  We have one of those shredding boxes at our house, well we actually loaned it to one of the Elders, so we have not tried to shred coconut as of yet, but after watching this I think we need to try as that is the only way I will get shredded coconut because it is not sold in stores here.





Molton and Sasaki husking coconuts



Eric Abraham shredding coconut



Games were enjoyed by the young as well. Fun relays were held where they had to run down to where a pole was located and run around it with their head down10 times and then run back and tag the next person.  They were a little dizzy and it was fun to see them try and run back and tag the next person. 

The relays were interupted by a heavy torrential downpour that lasted for about 45 minutes. We all ran to the Church for protection from the storm.  Some of us were inside and others went under the roof overhangs.  I imagine that we must have gotten about two inches of rain in that downpour.  While we were waiting we had a great game of ping pong going.  Lots of the youth and some of the adults took turns trying to beat the branch champion.  As the rain let up some, many decided it would be okay to start a volleyball game.  It continuted to rain for the rest of the evening but no one was going to let a little rain get in the way of having some fun.  A celebration wouldn't be a celebration without a little music and singing.

Paul Nena and ukulele