Overview:
Restoring Palau’s First Taro Patch: Mesei ra Ngeruuchel Reconnects Ngeremlengui to Its Cultural Roots
After decades of neglect, the historic Mesei ra Ngeruuchel in Ngeremlengui has been restored, reviving one of Palau’s most significant cultural sites. The project, supported by GEF and UNDP, honors the legend of Milad el Dil—the demi-goddess said to have created the first deep taro patch in Palau. Community leaders say the restoration is not only about preserving a site, but also about strengthening Palauan identity and passing heritage to future generations.
By: L.N. Reklai
KOROR, Palau — “We should teach our children at the state level about our state’s historical and cultural heritage, so that they can grow up with a stronger sense of identity and appreciation for their state,” said Kiblas Soaladoab, Director of the Bureau of Cultural and Historical Preservation, during the closing ceremony marking the completion of the Mesei ra Ngeruuchel restoration project.
Mesei ra Ngeruuchel, a registered historical site located in Ngerutechei village, Ngeremlengui State, has been brought back to life after nearly 30 years of abandonment. The site, deeply rooted in Palauan legend, is recognized as the first mesei—or taro patch—ever cultivated in Palau, symbolizing both the agricultural and cultural origins of the island nation.
“The reason we should continue to restore Mesei ra Ngeruuchel is because it is a precious cultural site not only for Palau but especially for Ngeremlengui,” said Mesiwal Madlutk, a Ngeremlengui State legislator representing the hamlet of Ngerutechei, where the historic site lies.
According to local legend, the demi-goddess Iluochel began creating taro patches in Angaur and Peleliu. As she traveled north, her name changed but her purpose remained—to shape and cultivate mesei across the islands. When she reached Ngeremlengui, she became known as Milad el Dil and pioneered a deeper form of taro cultivation. This technique, called mesalou, involved digging deep into the soil, filling the pit with leaves, and layering it for planting. Mesei ra Ngeruuchel is believed to be where this innovative practice first began in Palau.
Although ownership of the site is shared among 23 individuals, all have agreed to register it as a historical site, granting permission for the community and state to maintain and use it for cultural purposes.
The restoration effort was initiated by the two traditional clubs of Ngerutechei hamlet—Bungelkesol and Bngal a Kesol—working with the Ngeremlengui State Government to revive the overgrown taro patch. Governor Mary Frances Vogt said the site was previously restored about 30 years ago by members of the Modekngei movement from Ngeremlengui and Kayangel, but later fell into disuse.
Through support from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment, the community secured funding from the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the Global Biodiversity Framework Grant to restart the restoration work. The completion ceremony on October 30, 2025, marked a new chapter in the preservation of the state’s cultural and environmental heritage.
Despite the successful restoration, Madlutk said more support is still needed to sustain the project. The Mesei ra Ngeruuchel is believed to be the largest taro patch in Palau, yet only a small section has been restored so far. Ongoing maintenance, she said, will require more resources and community involvement to keep the site thriving for future generations.