Kosrae (pronounced /koʊˈʃaɪ/ in English), formerly known as Kusaie, is an island in Micronesia and is by itself one of four states of the Federated States of Micronesia.
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With a population of 7,317 (1994 census), Kosrae is the most eastern of the Caroline Islands. The island is located 370 mi (590 km) north of the equator, between Guam and the Hawaiian Islands. Its land area is 42 mi² (110 km²).
Kosrae is a high island that is largely unspoiled and rarely visited. Kosrae is becoming a destination for scuba divers and hikers. The coral reefs that surround the island are kept in pristine condition through an extensive mooring buoy system, installed and maintained by concerned ex-pat dive operators with the help of the Governments Marine Resources office. The reefs are seldom visited, and contain miles of hard corals, some said to be thousands of years old.
Dense vegetation and steep mountains keep the island largely undeveloped. Viewed from the sea, the island's distinct shape resembles a female body. This has led to the island being called "the island of the sleeping lady."
Kosrae's airport (IATA code KSA) on the northwestern coast of the island is served by Continental Micronesia "Island Hopper" flights (three times a week in each direction) between Hawaii and Guam, stopping at other FSM and Marshallese destinations on the way.
The official language of Kosrae is Kosraean, although the English language may also be used in government discourse. According to the Constitution of Kosrae, English is held to have "equal authority" to Kosraean (although in an instance where the Kosraean and English versions of the Constitution are held to be in irresolvable conflict, the Kosraean version prevails)[1].
Archaeological evidence shows that the island was settled at least by the early years of the first millennium AD, although it is expected that future research will push this back to the first millennium BC.
By the time of the island's first contact with European travellers in 1824, Kosrae had a highly stratified society, typical of the surrounding islands of the time. Its cultural features included matrilineal lineage and clans, with a feudal structure of "nobles" controlling land worked by "commoners" and settlements consisting of small groups of close relatives sharing a single cook house.
The first missionary post was established by Congregationalists in 1852, and virtually the whole island had converted to Christianity by the 1870s.[2] Today, many sects of Christianity are represented on Kosrae, and religion still plays an integral role in culture.
The pirate Bully Hayes was shipwrecked on Kosrae on March 15, 1874, and made his home in Utwe for almost a year, during which he allegedly terrorized the local people[3]. When a British vessel arrived (in February 1875) to investigate the claims against him, Hayes escaped - but not before, it is believed, he buried his treasure somewhere in the forest. (However, subsequent diggings have failed to uncover any such treasure.)[4].
Extensive economic improvements took place during the Japanese mandate of 1914 to 1945. The island was occupied by the Japanese during World War II, but no battles took place on Kosrae. Tunnel bunkers were dug into the tops of some of the island's interior peaks by Japanese soldiers and some are still intact.
In 1945, administration of the Micronesian islands, including Kosrae, passed to the United States, which began to provide aid and investment for the island in the 1960s.[5]
During the Trust Territory (TTPI) period, Kosrae was initially administered as part of the Ponape (Pohnpei) District, but later became a separate district. When the Micronesian constitution was defeated in the TTPI districts of Palau and the Marshall Islands, Kosrae joined the remaining districts (Yap, Chuuk and Pohnpei) to form the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). Kosrae is the only one-island FSM state, while the other three states are composed of many islands.
In early times, a system of exchange based on shells existed on Kosrae, although little is currently known about how it operated[6].
Since the 1960s, the Kosraean government has become the main employer on the island, where fishing and traditional farming remain the main source of the islanders' subsistence. Imports have replaced almost all other native manufactures. [7] The U.S dollar is the official currency used in Kosrae and throughout Micronesia.
There is a small tourism industry, mainly centered around scuba diving on the coral reef that rings the island.
Traditional foods included breadfruit, coconut, banana, taro, yam, and sugarcane. Breadfruit was the usual staple food, and it was preserved in leaf-lined pits for times of scarcity. Coconuts were reserved for nobles.
Food was a central part of island life, since each settlement consisted of small family groups gathered around a cook house containing at least one earth oven. Soft taro was made into a feast food called fahfah by men trained in the elaborate skills needed to prepare it properly, who also prepared kava. Brewed from the roots of a mountain plant, kava was served to members of the nobility. Fish were harvested mainly from the lagoon using nets.
Daily food for most families today consists of imported rice, tinned meats and fish, combined with fresh local fish and root crops. Even today, fahfah and pork are considered mainly feast foods.[8] It is thought that the Japanese introduced limes to the island, which now bear fruit almost all year round and are of the highest quality. Tangerines , which are green when ripe, [9]also abound, and are famous and sought after throughout the surrounding islands. There are even apples grown in many parts of Kosrae. There are many varieties of bananas, even some that must be cooked before eating. Few vegetables are grown on the island despite the favorable climate, largely because there are no pollinating insects.
The state is subdivided into five municipalities:
The capital of the state is Tofol, in Lelu municipality.
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Coordinates: 5°19′N 162°59′E / 5.317°N 162.983°E
Kosrae is one of the four states of the Federated States of Micronesia.
Kosrae is unlike most Micronesian island that have other nearby islands that can be easily traveled to by boat in one to two hours. Kosrae is hundreds of miles from the nearest island, so a day trip to an outer island is out of the question.
Kosraean is the native language, but most people speak at least enough English to understand visitors. It is a requirement of all government staff to be able to speak and write English, and the staff at all of the hotels, restaurants, and rental car companies speak English. Some of the older residents are able to speak Japanese, a legacy of WW2.
Continental Micronesia (continental.com) has been flying to the islands of the western and central Pacific since 1986. Numerous East and West bound flights make Kosrae easily accessible even for short visits.
The Kosrae International Airport, in Tafunsak Village is located at the north-western corner of Kosrae. The air terminal features handicraft shops, food service, and car rental agencies.
Kosrae's airport currently handles direct 737 flights that leave Honolulu on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings around 7AM, and after crossing the international dateline, and traveling a total of around 8 hours, you arrive the next day, Kosrae local time at around 12.30PM. During this trip you will have two 45-minute stops, one in Kwajalein and the other in Majuro. Kosrae also receives flights from Guam on Monday, Wednesday and Friday that leave around 8AM. There are two 45-minute stops, one in Chuuk and one in Pohnpei along the way, and the flight arrives in Kosrae around 2.45PM local time.
If you are traveling to Kosrae from Europe, the common flight paths are via Manila (Philippines), Seoul (Korea), or Tokyo (Narita Inl, Japan), and then connecting through Guam.
From Australia the most common way is to take a Continental flight from Cairns to Guam, which then has a short connection time onto Kosrae.
From the U.S. mainland, the common flight path is via Honolulu, but you can also take a direct flight to Tokyo from many U.S. cities, and then travel via Guam.
Taxis are available on Kosrae. They are very cheap ($2 to $5), but you get what you pay for, and they are rather unreliable. They're OK if you don't mind long waits, or walking if they don't arrive. Rental cars are relatively modern and normally in good condition. Most are US standard auto, left hand drive, and cost around US$50 per day. Most hotels can pre-arrange them. Most of the roads are flat and run around the edge of the island near the ocean. Bicycles are not readily available to hire.
Take a 2-hour outrigger canoe trip through the Utwe/Walung Biosphere Marine Reserve. This tour can be booked through most hotels and is a must do when visiting Kosrae. The guide has an 8-hp engine on the canoe that has been made by hand from a local breadfruit tree, so you don't even need to paddle, just sit back and take in the amazing scenery. At $25 per person (max 4 guests), it's great value for money. Take a look at the following youtube video that runs for less than 2 minutes to see the tour first hand. [3]
There are three licensed restaurants on Kosrae where anyone 21 or older can buy a drink. Due to strong church influences, consumption of alcohol on Sundays is prohibited.
Kosrae easily ranks amongst one of the safest places on the planet. Crime is uncommon, and normally petty. At 5 degrees above the equator it rarely experiences winds above 20 knots. It does receive a lot of rain when a tropical depression forms north of the island that will head east north-east and turn into a typhoon about a week later somewhere near Guam, Japan or The Philippines. There are no snakes, crocodiles or any other nasty animals on the island. Kosrae is like a pin coming up from the rather deep ocean floor, and because of this, it is believed that tsunami's pass right on by it without being noticed, as there is nowhere for the energy to build up.
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Category: Outline articles
   | Jane's Kosrae Page - Federated States Of Micronesia |
| | Kosrae Visitors Bureau - Home : Kosrae Visitors Bureau |
| | Photos of Kosrae - Kosrae Photo Gallery |
| | Constitution of the State of Kosrae - Kosrae State Constitution |
| | Australian Dictionary of Biography - Hayes, William Henry (Bully) (1829 - 1877) Biographical Entry - Australian Dictionary of Biography Online |
| | Constitution of Kosrae - Kosrae Constitution Article XIII |
| | Brief history of Kosrae (ibid.) - Kosrae - History and cultural relations |
| | Underwater photos of Kosrae - Kosrae Photo Gallery |
| | Kosrae green tangerines - Is It EDible?: April 2007 |
| | Kosraen Legends - Micronesia Grand Tour - Legends |
| | Mangrove Forest - Micronesia Grand Tour - Canoeing & Kayaking |
| | On the Road to Walung - Micronesia Grand Tour - Walung |
| | LDS MGM Alumni Page - Micronesia Guam Mission | Welcome |
| | Discussion of "Lost" Coordinates" - Lost: Not so lost, after all? - TV Squad |
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