(Central) Madolenihmw GPS Data

Downloadable GPS Data Files

The following files contain all the packaged GPS data for each of the featured locations in the (Central) Madolenihmw Eco-Adventure Map Guide.

Three file types are provided. KMZ and KML files are compatible with Google Earth. KML is compatible with Google Maps. GPX files can be imported into ArcGIS (a professional mapping application) and some hand-held GPS devices.

NOTE: All files are free to the public and can be used for any purpose without permission.

Dolen Merewi Hike (2015)

Madolenihmw Bay Area Attractions (2015)

Nankep Waterfall Hike (2015)

Pahnsapw Waterfalls Hike (2015)

Pahn Sile Waterfall Hike (2015)

Pohnpaip Petroglyphs (2015)

Coordinates

The following coordinates correspond with sites featured on the (Central) Madolenihmw Eco-Adventure Map Guide. It is our dream to eventually create a Pohnpei GPS app that could be uploaded to smartphones and other devices, but for now, these points of interest can be entered manually in a hand-held GPS device as needed.

NOTE: All GPS devices have a margin of error. That margin increases with interference — when there is a thick canopy of trees, during bad weather, or when mountains obstruct the satellite link. The geosynchronous satellites employed when navigating on Pohnpei are located low on the southwestern horizon, such that maintaining a strong connection while hiking on the northeast side of a given mountain range can be difficult. Coordinates on the northeastern slopes of mountains are less accurate than in other locations.

Dolen Merewi

Dolen Merewi Turn-Off —- 6.882208° 158.290005°
Road Branching – bear left —- 6.881983° 158.278225°
Dolen Merewi Trailhead —- 6.880292° 158.274669°
Private Residence —- 6.880442° 158.274156°
Look-Out Point —- 6.883006° 158.270929°
Dolen Merewi True Summit —- 6.882815° 158.270869°

Madolenihmw Bay Area

Lukop, Metipw & Kepine Turn-Off —- 6.898141° 158.315994°
Road Branching – bear left for Lukop and Metipw; bear right for Kepine and Takaiuh —- 6.889728° 158.314120°
Bridge —- 6.884719° 158.313625°
Japanese Agricultural Plots —- 6.886711° 158.311515°
Nanpahlap Trailhead —- 6.876366° 158.318225°
Nanpahlap Summit —- 6.875491° 158.315744°
Tahio Trailhead —- 6.874010° 158.317018°
Japanese Dug-Out —- 6.873007° 158.316122°
Japanese Trench —- 6.872754° 158.315133°
Japanese Tunnel —- 6.873264° 158.314119°
Abandoned Community Hut (nahs) —- 6.872849° 158.314316°
Takaiuh Summit —- 6.872128° 158.310713°
Rocky Hill —- 6.874429° 158.308532°
Dauen Sapwalap Entrance —- 6.876938° 158.308196°
Japanese Rice Paddies Turn-Off —- 6.888314° 158.296764°
Japanese Rice Paddies & Irrigation Canals —- 6.887325° 158.303652°
Metipw Causeway / Launch —- 6.878051° 158.333074°
Mwudokolos Island —- 6.883576° 158.336525°
Dahu Reirei Island —- 6.888759° 158.344288°
“Channel Island” —- 6.899494° 158.342153°
Nanwap Marine Protected Area —- 6.872988° 158.353673°
Nahpali Island Dock —- 6.861877° 158.354457°
Salong Point, Temwen Island —- 6.856468° 158.322737°
MERIP Boathouse —- 6.844010° 158.308539°
Madolenihmw Ice Dock —- 6.849520° 158.302712°
Madolenihmw Bay Scenic Point —- 6.855273° 158.295686°

Nankep Waterfall

Nankep Waterfall Turn-Off —- 6.858738° 158.291440°
Bridge —- 6.858789° 158.291453°
Nankep Waterfall Trailhead —- 6.859867° 158.286390°
Nankep Waterfall —- 6.859335° 158.283177°

Nankepinmerepw Valley

Nankepinmerepw Turn-Off —- 6.873704° 158.286552°
Nankepinmerepw Trailhead —- 6.875185° 158.273305°
Senipehn Footbridge —- 6.876110° 158.271732°
Private Residence —- 6.877294° 158.263737°
Small Falls & Swimming Pool —- 6.877911° 158.242150°
Prismatic Basalt Quarry Site / Falls —- 6.878689° 158.240613°
Nankepinmerepw Waterfall —- 6.880498° 158.239370°
Block Waterfall —- 6.882766° 158.238850°
Trail Branching – bear right for Nahnalaud; bear left for “The Cave.” —- 6.888859° 158.288880°
“The Cave” —- 6.866427° 158.230917°
USGS Benchmark —- 6.874333° 158.230076°
Nahnalaud Look-Out Point #2 —- 6.874333° 158.230076°
Nahnalaud Look-Out Point #1 / Observed Summit —- 6.873876° 158.228524°
Nahnalaud True Summit —- 6.873323° 158.228724°
Nahnalaud Mountain Shelter —- 6.874001° 158.227374°

Pahnsapw Waterfalls

Pahnsapw Waterfall Turn-Off —- 6.871427° 158.285654°
Sakau Market —- 6.871839° 158.285500°
Sakau Market —- 6.871234° 158.285637°
Road Branching – bear right —- 6.870202° 158.282381°
Bridge —- 6.870052° 158.280071°
Road Branching – bear right —- 6.870060° 158.280108°
Road Branching – bear left —- 6.869425° 158.278666°
Pahnsapw Trailhead —- 6.868207° 158.278527°
Silbanuz Residence —- 6.867969° 158.278513°
Pahnsapw Lower Falls —- 6.865171° 158.277289°
Hidden Pool —- 6.865183° 158.277071°
Pahnsapw Upper Falls —- 6.864683° 158.277100°

Pahn Sile Waterfall

Pahn Sile Waterfall Turn-Off —- 6.873704° 158.286552°
Taxi Stop —- 6.873691° 158.286771°
Bridge —- 6.873629° 158.286431°
Road Branching – bear left —- 6.875588° 158.281340°
Road Branching – bear left —- 6.875802° 158.276411°
Road Branching – bear left —- 6.875179° 158.273294°
Pahn Sile Trailhead —- 6.873597° 158.269375°
Trail Branching – bear right —- 6.873598° 158.269382°
Trail Branching – bear left —- 6.873662° 158.269032°
Japanese Irrigation Canal —- 6.871403° 158.266674°
Japanese Irrigation Canal —- 6.870612° 158.265405°
Stream Crossing —- 6.866702° 158.264493°
Trail Branching – Bear right for waterfall & pool; left to see the falls from above —- 6.866048° 158.264342°
Senipehn River Crossing —- 6.865499° 158.263650°
Pahn Sile Waterfall Pool —- 6.864499° 158.263151°
Pahn Sile Waterfall —- 6.864467° 158.263028°
Break north From trail to see the falls from above —- 6.864209° 158.262860°

Pohnpaip Petroglyphs

Pohnpaip Petroglyphs Turn-Off —- 6.886941° 158.291017°
Bridge —- 6.886789° 158.290910°
Pohnpaip Trailhead —- 6.888161° 158.289097°
Herson Residence —- 6.887435° 158.288495°
Pohnpaip Outcropping —- 6.887621° 158.288259°
Magical Door of Pohnpaip —- 6.887551° 158.288181°
Takain Pahsu —- 6.888396° 158.288694°
“Hindquarters Rock” —- 6.888665° 158.288933°
“Enveloped Cross Rock” —- 6.888859° 158.288880°

Downloads >> GPS Central >> Madolenihmw GPS Data

Madolenihmw Bay Area

BikingHiking / TrekkingCave, Tunnel or BunkerWorld War II FortificationsArchaeological Site / RuinBird-WatchingCampingSwimmingSnorkelingSCUBA divingKayaking / CanoeingSurfingPicnickingBeachesMarine Reserve

Dauen Sapwalap / Senipehn Mangrove Reserve

  • Visit the Paddling Around Madolenihmw page for a detailed description of this location and the adventures to be had in the area.
  • Entering the mangrove reserve requires a permit. Visit our MPA page for details.

Kamau Pwoungapwoung

Though we didn’t map the hike to this destination as part of the eco-adventure map series (for lack of time), it would, never the less, be an exciting adventure to consider. Kamau Pwoungapwoung refers to a freshwater pool and waterfall at the headwaters of the Dipwilap Stream (Pilen Dipwilap), one of the tributaries of the Senipehn River (Pillapen Senipehn). The place is significant as the location where the last battle between the Saudeleur‘s warriors and Isokelekel’s men was fought. Upon being defeated by Isokelekel, the Saudeleur transformed himself into a small blue fish, that inhabits the pool to this day, and leaped into the waterfall. The hike would be a long one from the area around Pahn Sile. The closest access point would probably be from the direction of Nihpit fern meadow (reached from eastern Kitti).

  • The absolute best choice for a guide is Relio Lengsi. Give him a call at +691.924.2580 and discuss the best route options and access points for this location. Offer $50.00 for a full-day hike.

Nanpahlap Peak

The 137 m (449 ft) hill to the east of Takaiuh looks as if its top has been lopped off — which fits in with the story about its creation (see Takaiuh below). Though steep in places and somewhat overgrown, the ascent isn’t too strenuous. At the summit are the tumbled ruins of a prehistoric stone structure and a breath-taking view. The whole area around the southern foot of the hill is criss-crossed with Japanese trenches and dotted with tunnels, including at least one very long one leading into the hill. The grid of paddies and irrigation canals where the Japanese successfully cultivated rice (despite Pohnpei’s challenging climate conditions) are found on both sides of the unpaved access road, though you can get closest to the bulk of these fields from another road to the west.

Everything is private land, but no official access fees are charged.

  • To hire a guide, ask at the houses in the area or contact Hanke Albert at +691.320.4047. Offer $25.00 for Nanpahlap or a half-day of exploration in the area.

Nanwap Marine Protected Area (MPA)

Nanwap Marine Protected Area is a 3.05 km2 (305 hectare) section of the barrier reef and adjacent lagoon areas on the north side of Kepidauen Deleur (passage). The sanctuary was founded by community members from Metipw and Lukop and their respective chiefs and gained legal status in 2010. It became the first of Pohnpei’s MPAs to have its own formal community-created management plan with the support of the Pohnpei MPA Executive Management Network and the state offices of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Office of Fisheries and Aquaculture, and Environmental Protection Agency. Nanwap is a “no-take zone,” which means no fishing or gathering of any kind is allowed within the boundaries. It is regarded as the “most biologically diverse and best preserved spawning and aggregation site” for many of Pohnpei’s core reef fish species. Snorkelers should seek out the protected blue holes on the west side of the reef, while SCUBA divers will want to do a drift dive on the southern wall of the reef during an in-coming tide.

  • Entering the MPA requires a permit. Visit our MPA page for details.

Pahn Dieinuh

Boys roll tires for a game, Madolenihmw, Pohnpei Island, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM)

Peiai

Peiai is a small populated place near the turn-off for Pahn Sile waterfall. During the battle between the warriors of Isokelekel and the army of the last Saudeleur, Peiai was the place where the tide of battle turned dramatically (hence, the name references a situation where the runner-up in a race pulls ahead of the leader — loosely translated “the battle is reversed”). Isokelekel’s men were being beaten down by the forces of Nan Madol when one of the conqueror’s greatest fighting men pinned his own foot to the ground with his spear, refusing to retreat and declaring that he would kill any man who tried to run away from the fight. Isokelekel’s men rallied behind this show of bravery and pushed back the Saudeleur‘s warriors, chasing them up the Senipehn River and eventually to Kamau Pwoungapwoung, a waterfall at the headwaters of the Dipwilap Stream, where the Saudeleur was finally defeated.

Sapwalap

Sapwalap (“large land”) is an expansive region of mostly flat ground that makes up a sizable chunk of central Madolenihmw. The Japanese recognized Sapwalap‘s potential as a site of large-scale agriculture. During the thirty years leading up to World War II, sugarcane was cultivated and processed at a facility near Kitamw (the tower is still partly visible in the jungle off the road) and rice was grown in a patchwork of paddies fed by irrigation canals. Strangely, no one is growing rice these days, but the paddies are still there opposite the gleaming LDS Church. Other fields are found as far east as Lukop.

Takaiuh peak, Madolenihmw, Pohnpei Island, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM)

Tahio

Tahio, on the south side of Nanpahlap, is another place where the Japanese were active. The access road was built by them and the coastal area is full of trenches, rifle pits, dugouts, and tunnels. Everything is overgrown, but anyone who pokes around will be rewarded with interesting finds. Bring a local resident along.

Takaiuh Peak

You can’t visit Madolenihmw without being arrested by the sight of Takaiuh, a 160 m (525 ft) peak shaped like a traffic cone that stands on the north side of the bay and seems to guard the entrance to the Sapwalap estuary. The mythical origin-story of the hill — which bears a striking resemblance to the Biblical tale of the tower of Babel — involves Mwohnmur and Sarapwau, two wily brothers who enter into many Pohnpeian legends (they also created the Sahwar Valley and the rock of Pohnpaip).

How Takaiuh Came to Be

Long ago, two boys named Mwohnmur and Sarapwau were born in Salapwuk (Kitti) to a woman named Lienlama. The boys were always involved in clever schemes and mischief and traveled far and wide doing great works. Once, the brothers took a piece of stone, and using it like a canoe, paddled to Pohndolen Imwinsapw near what is now Tahio in Madolenihmw. There, Mwohnmur and Sarapwau amused themselves by piling up rocks until they had formed a large hill. A local demi-god named Lapongo saw what they were doing and wasn’t pleased, so he threw a stone at their hill and destroyed it. He then challenged the brothers to a competition to see who could build a mountain the fastest. The three set to work, but it soon became apparent that the boys were winning. Their mountain was so tall it had reached the sky. Being a poor loser, Lapongo became enraged. He picked up a stone and threw it at the new mountain, which broke into six pieces. The base of the mountain that remained standing was named Takaiuh (“standing stone”).

This was not the end of the conflicts between the brothers and Lapongo, however. Lapongo mocked and ridiculed the boys whenever he could, and they did not like it. Now, the brothers liked to play at a place called Pahnlikes, below the spot where they had settled on Likes peak west of modern-day Sapwalap. There was a steep slope there that they would slide down for fun, sitting upon the leaf sheaths of the kotop palm (Clinostigma ponapensis). The boys knew that Lapongo had been watching them and was aware of their play place, so they decided to trick him. Lapongo was invited to slide down the slope with the boys, but they chose a spot where the slope ended at the waterside (possibly the southern tributary of Pilen Kitamw). All three began sliding down the hill. When Mwohnmur and Sarapwau reached the bottom, they leaped off their sheaths and dived to safety, but Lapongo went straight and fell into the water. He sank down into the depths, and the brothers threw rocks on top of him to keep him from resurfacing.

Takaiuh is actually an island separated from the coast by a strip of mangrove forest. It was once inhabited, but is no longer. Though the hill is climbable, the ascent is extremely dangerous, characterized by very steep slopes and cliffs prone to rockslides with little or nothing solid to hold on to. For this reason we strongly advise visitors to enjoy Takaiuh from below rather than trying for the summit. Hikers who insist on seeking the summit, do so at their own risk. Distant views of the peak are found along the Circle Island Road, but the best close-up view from land is from the old Japanese road in Kepine. According to residents living in the area, the Japanese abandoned an attempt to build a trail all the way to the top of the hill. Some of the low wall can still be seen on the lower slope.

Map Guides >> Central Madolenihmw >> Madolenihmw Bay Area

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