Royalty

Here on Pohnpei, there are five Municipalities, and they are Madolenihmw, Kitti, Sokehs, Nett, and Uh. I live in Madolenihmw, up until now I still do not know which municipality is bigger, whether it is Kitti or Madolenihmw. There is a debate about it and I did not know the result of the debate yet. However, each Municipality has their own Nahnmwarki (Pohnpeian for King). Where I live, when a King is appointed, he take his family and they leave to Temwen. Temwen is where Nahnmadol is located. They went to the Tehnpas (Pohnpeian for Palace). That place is only for kings and they will live there for as long as they have the title of Nahnmwarki en Madolenihmw (Madolenihmw King). Next to the Tehnpas, stand the church of Temwen. It is a church that was build by the forefathers. The elders of that community does not allow renovating the church. They only change the tin roof of the church when it is needed. They wanted to keep the church that their forefathers had built. However, outside of the church, lay the cemetery of the late Nahnmwarki(es). Only a Nahnmwarki will be buried there in the cemetery. Even the Likend (Queen) was not included to be buried there. The beginning of this month (June) the Likend passed away. And the funeral ceremony took place at the Tehnpas. The casket was not on the floor so family members, friends, and other royalty females would bow their heads on the casket to weep. The casket was seated on a table and every women who went inside to weep, will sit at the feet of the table and weep. No one is allowed to look inside the casket except for the Nahnmwarki. This also applies to those who have seats in the government. When a congressmen, governor, or any official in the state government passed while seated, the casket will not be on the floor. But if the person passed after being seated, the casket will be on the floor so every family or friends will look at the deceased and weep. However, when a Likend passed away, the Nahnmwarki can look for another Likend. So whenever a Likend passed away, women would put on some perfume, wear their best outfits, and wen to Tehnpas. They will not look at the Nahnmwarki but they will make sure they grab the attention of the Nahnmwarki. If the Nahnmwarki saw a women he find interest in, he will let his relative and other royalty women know. The women from his family will then follow the women he likes and pour oil on her skin and put mwaramwar (lace) around her neck. Sealing them for the Nahnmwarki. This means, the Nahnmwarki as chosen you whether you like it or not, married or not . You are now the Likend.
Let me tell you about a story of my great-grandmother. She lived in Nett. When the wife of their Nahnmwarki passed, she was at her house raking outside. Days after the funeral, the Nahnmwarki of Nett started to look for a wife. He send women to my great-grandmother's house without my great-grandmother knowing. They went straight to her, apply oil to her body put a mwaramwar around her neck. And at that very moment, she put down the rake, went inside the house, pack up her clothes, and leave to Tehnpas. Her children cried but they have no right in that decision, even for our great-grandma. This story may sound terrible, but she is history to her great-grandchildren. She did not went to the funeral to attract the King, but was selected among many women of Nett.

**This is only story I gathered from family members. When I have more, I will let you guys know. If there are any questions, please let me know in the comments below. Kalahngan (thank you) for reading.