Overview:
Historic Ngchesechang Village in Airai is coming back to life. After decades of abandonment, community-led restoration efforts are uncovering ancient stone pathways, reviving traditional structures, and reconnecting elders and youth to Palau’s rich cultural heritage.
By: Summer Kennard
AIRAI, Palau (December 29, 2025) — “People may have left the village physically, but their hearts and minds remained there,” Airai State Governor Norman H. Ngiratecheboet said as the historic village of Beluu er a Ngchesechang undergoes renewed life following decades of abandonment through a community-led cultural restoration effort.
The Bureau of Cultural and Historical Preservation (BCHP), under the Ministry of Human Resources, Culture, Tourism and Development, reported significant progress in rehabilitating the traditional village in Airai State, marking a major step in preserving Palau’s cultural and historical heritage.
The restoration is a collaborative initiative led by the Ngchesechang local community, in partnership with the Airai State Government, with funding support from BCHP. Work officially began on May 24, 2025, driven by the collective efforts of community members and backed by strong support from Governor Ngiratecheboet and Ngchesechang Delegate Lalii Ikluk.
After years of disuse, the site required extensive rehabilitation. Early efforts focused on excavating and uncovering basalt stones buried underground, followed by the careful realignment of the village’s traditional stone pathway. Community members also cleared dense vegetation and restored key features of the village under the guidance of Chief Spis Ngirkiklang and the elders of Ngchesechang.
Ngiratecheboet said the village was gradually abandoned as education and economic opportunities drew residents closer to Koror. Despite the shift, he emphasized that the cultural connection to Ngchesechang never disappeared.
“Traditional sites such as Beluu er a Ngchesechang are the foundation of Palauan identity, culture and life itself,” he said. The loss of such places, he added, leaves communities without direction, “like a ship floating aimlessly, with no destination, no purpose and no reason to exist.”
Reviving the village, along with similar cultural initiatives, helps restore that sense of purpose and provides a path forward for the community, the governor said.
To ensure the authenticity and integrity of the restoration, BCHP Registrar McMichael Mutok has conducted monthly monitoring visits to assess progress and confirm compliance with the signed Cooperative Agreement governing the project.
Beluu er a Ngchesechang, officially designated as Site No. B:IR-6:8, was added to the Palau Register of Historic Places on July 28, 2015. The site holds substantial cultural and historical significance, including ancestral ties to Kayangel State, further elevating its importance within Palau’s cultural landscape.
Beyond physical restoration, the project has also become a platform for strengthening intergenerational knowledge. Ngiratecheboet said the rehabilitation was intentionally designed as a community-based effort, requiring the participation of elders, youth and traditional leaders.
This collective approach, he said, strengthens community ownership while ensuring the transmission of history, cultural lessons and identity — oidel a chas, or knowing who you are and where you come from.