A pre-World War II image of what many today refer to as “Bear Rock” in Agfayan Bay in the village of Inalåhan.

A pre-World War II image of what many today refer to as “Bear Rock” in Agfayan Bay in the village of Inalåhan.

While “Bear Rock” as the name for this iconic rock formation is well-known today, it is also relatively new. Like other sites such as Camel Rock, it was given a new name after the arrival of the United States. Americans stationed on Guam gave the landscape new names using animals or ideas that they were more familiar with. These names unfortunately can replace and erase the older CHamoru names and histories for how that name was given.

There are still some people in Inalåhan who remember these older names for Bear Rock. One name that is used is “Laso’ Gi’ai.” What this name means or the histories to it are unclear and open for interpretation and discussion.