The kåmyo or coconut grater has been an essential part of CHamoru life for millennia.
The kåmyo or coconut grater has been an essential part of CHamoru life for millennia. The kåmyo or coconut grater has been an essential part
The Legend of the Ko'ko' (Guam Rail) and the Hilitai (Monitor Lizard)
The Legend of the Ko’ko’ (Guam Rail) and the Hilitai (Monitor Lizard) is one of the best-known animal legends told by the CHamoru people. In it, a hilitai who sings wonderfully, hopes to upgrade his appearance to match his voice. He makes a deal with a ko’ko’, that they will paint each other to make them look more beautiful.
The ko’ko’ paints small spots on the hilitai’s green skin. The hilitai loves his new look, but when it comes time to paint the ko’ko’, he adds a few stripes, but then gives up not wanting to continue. The ko’ko’ punishes the hilitai for breaking his promise by pecking his tongue, splitting it in two so he could no longer sing.
This legend provides a story for why both animals look and act a certain way. It also has an important moral, reminding children to not be so vain or selfish as to forget about promises you have made to your friends.
Image is from the Hale’-ta book: Hemplon Nåna Siha.
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The kåmyo or coconut grater has been an essential part of CHamoru life for millennia. The kåmyo or coconut grater has been an essential part
SummaryThe Guam Museum has thousands of postcards in its collection, each showing the beauty, culture or history of the island in different ways across the
SummaryTwo CHamoru children walking to school in Guam in 1949. There are no notes with the photo to indicate the village or the names of
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