In the prehistoric days when the first settlers arrived on these islands, the first canoe, which carried Dauhepit, his family and crew, landed on Sonsorol. Finding the island inhabited he sailed on to Pulo Anna. Shortly after he landed on Pulo Anna, another boat carrying Maretaidou and his crew arrived. A contest was carried out between the two men to determine who first discovered the island and would therefore be the rightful owner. Maretaidou won through his cleverness in tricking Dauhepit to think that he came first. He did this by digging up Dauhepit’s canoe mat which Dauhepit had buried in the sand as evidence of his discovery, and then burying his canoe mat a few feet below it to make it look like he came and buried his first. Dauhepit accepting loss, he sailed on to settle on Meriil. His sister sailed farther South and settled on Hatohobei. The friendly and hospitable relationship between Hatohobei and Meriil continued throughout the history of both islands.

In the prehistoric days there were hundreds of people residing on the islands. At the turn of the 19th Century the German census counted more than 300 people on Pulo Anna and Sonsorol. With this number of people on these small islands, people simply lived off the land and sea for many generations of cultural knowledge of their environment and wise usage of the available natural resources.

The staple food of the islands is mostly fish, fruits and root crops. With the large body of ocean surrounding the islands, there were abundance of fish, reef fish, shells, turtles and most often migratory fishes. Fruits are seasonal. They are mostly coconut, breadfruit, and banana. Root crops are yams (several types), moruye (Alocasia macrorrhizos-elephant ear taro), and mohumohu (Tacca leontopetaloides-Pacific arrowroot). With food sources in short supply, food products were prepared to last. Nothing was wasted. Men go out fishing for the collective need of the community. They apportion their catch to all households in their respective villages. If there were surplus for a day’s family meal, people prepared fish to last by smoking, salting and drying. Usually, women gathered together to cook and prepare fruits and other root crops to last as well. During the breadfruit season, men climbed to harvest breadfruit while women prepared for family meals and preserved food surpluses. Root crops were prepared in coconut syrup to make them last longer. Earth oven (um) was also used for added flavor as well as for lasting preservation of food. Apparently, the daily life on these islands evolved mostly around food gathering, preparation, and preservation.

Politically governed by Palau, the Sonsorol State islands share Palau’s history of foreign colonization and administration. During the Spanish Administration (1885-1899) of Palau several Sonsorolese were taken by Captain O’Keefe as his boat crew. Others were taken to Yap and a few to Manaquary in Papua New Guinea as well as Celebes and Mapia in the Indonesian Islands to work in copra industries. In the late 1950s, during the takeover of the Celebes and Mapia islands by the Indonesian government from the Dutch, the United States Trust Territory government brought some of these people’s descendants back to Palau.

During the German Administration (1899-1914) of the Palau islands, the most significant event that occurred in the Sonsorol State islands was a big typhoon that devastated Pulo Anna and Meriil. These islands were totally washed out by strong winds and big waves. Many people died during the typhoon and the famine that followed. The German Administrators in Koror sent a boat, which evacuated people from both islands and brought them to Koror. Their descendants continue to reside in Eang, Koror and have grown significantly in number.

During the Japanese Administration (1914-1945) the people in the Sonsorol State islands were exposed to Japanese culture and militarism. It was the first instance for foreigners to actually reside on a few of the islands. At first the islanders were introduced to a different culture, foreign language and leadership styles. In addition, they were introduced to commercial production of katsuo-boshi, smoked fish, sea cucumber (beche de mer) as well as phosphate mining. Later, during the war, Japanese soldiers constructed defensive fortifications, which were recognized for their historical value and added to the Palau Register of Historic Places on March 20, 2020.

After the war under the UN Trusteeship (1945-1994), the islanders enjoyed better services from the US Navy and US Territory Government. Field trip boats were sent regularly to visit the islands bringing with them medical and dental services and much needed food and clothing provisions. New concepts of formal education were also introduced to the islanders. With the more regular field trips, people began to travel more frequently to Koror for medical purposes and then for educational reasons. In the 1970’s and 1980’s there was a significant population migration trend to Koror and outside of Palau for “better opportunities”.

As Palau became an independent nation in 1994 under the Compact of Free Association with the United States of America, these four (4) islands were mutually joined to become Sonsorol State as one of the sixteen States of the Republic. Mandated as a State under the Palau Constitution, Sonsorol State formulated and adopted its State Constitution. The State Constitution established a democratic form of government, which incorporated the traditional leadership, local customs, and culture of the islands that are appropriate in its island governance. Today, the people of Sonsorol State continue to practice their unique cultures and traditions on their islands, in Koror, and outside of Palau.