I truly believe that today’s generation of Chamorros should shoulder the responsibility of passing on the traditions and values of our ancestral society to our children. It is not enough that we talk about preserving our culture and language only. We must become the storytellers of our past and interpret the knowledge we have learned because the history of Guahan and our Chamorro people is our history.

If we are to understand why Guahan is what it is today, we must learn about the people and the events that helped make our island’s history. We need to know about them and the wisdom they’ve garnished from the lessons they’ve learned through hardships and successes. While Guahan’s rich history offers much for people to learn, there are few of the island’s ancient Chamorro leaders whose lives have been recorded and may be worth noting.

Kepuha is most noted for his efforts to help the Spanish missionaries at the start of Christianization in the Marianas. He played a key role in the establishment of the first Catholic Church in Guahan. He used his influence to enlist the Chamorros to accept and welcome the presence of the Spaniards. He became the first Chamorro to be baptized and was given the Christian name, Juan. He became faithful to his newfound religion and was provided a large plot of land, which Padre Diego Luis de San Vitores, the first to establish a mission in 1668, used to build the first Catholic Church in Guahan. Kepuha died in 1669. By then, trouble was already brewing between the Chamorros and the missionaries.

Hurao is one of the most famous ancient Chamorro leaders. The Spaniards labeled him a “rebel” because he resisted the missionaries. With a force of 2,000 warriors, he attacked the Spaniards in 1690. According to accounts, Hurao was motivated into action by the death of his friend, who had been among several Chamorros arrested as suspects in the murder of a young mission worker. While they were in custody, the accused men turned on their guards, and Hurao’s friend was killed in the battle. Several years after the event, after Hurao had died, Charles le Gobien recorded Hurao’s speech as it was told to him, including the words Hurao had used to fire up the spirit of his men. To underscore the importance of Guahan’s quest for Commonwealth, then-Congressman Robert Underwood read Hurao’s speech to his fellow congressional representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives on March 9, 1993 – 323 years after Hurao’s death. Hurao’s speech is also displayed on the walls of the Superior Court of Guam.

Matå’pang, another ancient Chamorro leader, accepted Christianity and was baptized by San Vitores. Despite his baptism, he did not remain faithful to the mission. He changed his mind and turned against the missionaries. With his friend, Irao, he killed San Vitores after San Vitores baptized his daughter without his permission.

Aguarin, according to Charles le Gobien, was a mischievous genius who constantly urged the Chamorros to take up the fight against the Spaniards. Between 1676 and 1680, he kept rebuilding his army and attacking the Spaniards. Aguarin was eventually captured by Gov. Jose de Quiroga and hanged.

Hineti, given the Christian name of Ignacio, openly supported the Spanish missionaries. With his 50 warriors, he collaborated with the soldiers to hold the garrison until Quiroga arrived from his military mission in Rota. The Chamorro rebels had urged him to join them to kill the governor to end Spanish domination, but he refused. In 1678, the Spaniards named him grand provost, or commander, of the Chamorro troops in recognition for his loyalty and support.