Maga'lahi Kepuha

Fronting the Maga'lahi Kepuha statue is the "Boat Basin" at Paseo de Susanna a peninsula created from the debris of war-torn Agana or Hagatoa(Hagatna), Guahan has the distinction of being the only populated U.S. soil invaded on Dec 8 1941 and occupied by another country during WWII {3 remote Aluetian Isles off Alaska were also invaded}. While the U.S. Marines defended Cabras Island, Tutuhan and parts of Hagatna in Category F, some Chamoru Guahan Insular Guards {Pedro Cruz, Vicente Chargualaf and Ramon Camacho} mounted a brave but futile defense of Government House during the Japanese Invasion. During the occupation, atrocities, grenade slaughters and rapes were common. Concentration camps at Manengon and other interior sites were established by the 29th Division of Japan's Kwantung Army. 600 Chamoru were officially executed {some were beheaded due to the Chamoru 3-year humanitarian effort to successfully feed and hide a U.S. Navy radioman George Tweed from capture}. The Campaign of Guahan which started on July 21 1944 by the Americans was marked by a record tonnage of naval bombardment with 7,000 U.S. casualties and 11,000 Japanese perished. Post-Conflict Islanders have since embraced both countries in friendship.

The Spanish Occupation March 6, 1521-June 20, 1898

The matriarchy society of Ancient Tautaumona was dominated by women or maga'hagas. Kepuha was depicted as having stood tall and robust. He had gained prominence in 17th Century Hagatna because of his post as Maga'lahi, or high-ranking male. He had the authority to hand down important decisions made with the advise and consent of the highest ranking woman in his clan, the Maga'haga.

In 1668, the 'San Diego' landed off the shores of Hagatna {Agana}. On board was the Jesuit missionary, Padre Diego Luis de San Vitores, who with other priests and soldiers established a Catholic mission in the Ha'ani Islands. Kepuha welcomed the missionaries and later allowed himself to be baptized by San Vitores as Juan Kepuha. He remained faithful to his new-found religion and provided a large plot of land for the mission. The first Catholic church in Guahan was built on that plot. In those days, land was owned by clans, and only women could 'inherit' land. The maga'haga of his clan must have had some decision on the granting of land. Chief Kepuha died in 1669 but his legacy had a tremendous impact on all Tautaumona by allowing the Spanish to successfully establish a strong foothold and refuge in Tautaumona Islands for the Manila Galleon Trade.