At the beginning of World War 2 there were nearly 14000 Japanese and only about 5000 Pohnpeians on Pohnpei. The US bombed Pohnpei heavily, Kolonia was virtually levelled, but the island was not actually invaded during the war. These are the remains of anti-aircraft guns on Sokehs Ridge (see the picture previously for the quite spectacular profile of Sokehs Ridge and Rock above Kolonia). There are apparently the remnants of rice paddies nearby, which obviously fell into disrepair when the Japanese left, but left the Pohnpeians with a hankering which is now met by enormous sacks of imported rice.
Sokehs Ridge is just about the only non-privately (ie: government) owned land on the island. They have created a quite beautiful little park around the relics, which doesn’t seem to suffer the neglect and rubbish which mars just about every other developed privately owned area I have seen. Perhaps also because it is quite a vigorous hour long walk to the top of the ridge not so many people go there…
Ben
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