Guam War in the Pacific National Historical Park (Term Paper Sample)

NATIONAL PARKS: GUM; WAR IN THE PACIFIC
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Background
In this report, we get to know about the war of the pacific national historical park on Guam Island in some detail. We examine the history of the inhabitants of Guam to have a clear understanding of the people on the island and how they came to stay in the area. We shall also learn about the culture of the people and how they manifest their culture in terms of their way of life, the respect they accord their elders and the form of greetings without ignoring celebration of political life. This report shall also take into account the climate and weather of the island and also consider how the national historical park came to be of importance to the American people as opposed to the original occupiers who were the Japanese.
This report shall also lead us into understanding the hostility in climate if any, the visiting hours and schedules of park management and limitations given to visitors taking into account the opening and closing times of the park and the days they are not allowed to visit the park. This will also cover the type of services and important units as well as the important monuments expected in these units.
Introduction
The island of Guam, or Guahan in the native Chamorro is one of the most cosmopolitan communities in the united states which are reflective of cultures of the ancient Chamorro inhabitants from as early as 2000 BC which are also influenced by American, Asian, European, Micronesian and other peoples who visited or immigrated to the area of Guam from as early as the 16th century.
The ancient occupants of Guam are believed to have been of the indo – Malaya originating from the south east of Asia from 2000BC with both linguistic and cultural resemblance to Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines (Guam – online.com, 2015). These people flourished in fishing, hunting and horticultural activities, exerting seaman and skilled craftsmen with familiarity in intricate weaving and details in pottery, known to have built unique houses and causes in the region. The Chamorro people are known to possess a very strong matriarchal society and because of the power and prestige of their women coupled with the failure of the Spanish overlords to realize the fact, much of their culture including their language, dance, music and traditions have been able to survive till today.
GUAM
Guam itself is made of two very distinct geologic units, the volcanic mountains to its south as well as limestone towards its north and much of the Guam Island is covered by fringing coral reef that buffers its coast from the open Pacific Ocean storms and waves although these coral reefs are vulnerable to both expected rise of the sea level and storm damage as well as increased water temperatures, the coral diseases and sedimentation from land run off (Heogh – Guldberg, 1999). Scientists intimate that sea – level rise could result into coral reef growth by providing increased headroom for ecosystems that reach their limit of vertical growth although this alone could be accompanied by increased water temperatures as well as changes in salinity which further damage or stress the coral reef ecosystems (Graus and Macintyre, 1998). Yet the slow growing reefs may not be enough to keep pace with any potential increases with the rate of rise of the sea – level.
There are also possible natural hazards that could impact on the coastal evolution of Guam which among others include tropical cyclones as well as Tsunamis (Richmond &Jaffe, 1991). Guam is also understood to support a diverse ecosystem which is preserved by the war in the pacific national historical park and besides the several natural resources along the coast, it is clear that the park has significant cultural resources which are as old as over 2000 years and go through Guam’s role in the WWII.
The People and the Culture
Today, Guam is clearly cosmopolitan as a community with a very unique culture whose core is the ancient Chamorro heavily influenced by the occupation of the Spanish and the Roman Catholic Church. A strong American influence is also evidenced in the celebration of most of their public holidays, the nature of their governments and administration as well as the pride in being the United States as displayed by the population. The culture of the Guam people is also influenced as well as enriched by the Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Filipino and the Micronesian immigrants each of which adding some unique contribution to the culture.
The main part of the Guam culture which is the Chamorro is majorly characterized by a very strong complex social protocol which is centered on respect, accepting and caring as well as helping one another. Interdependence is also a core value for the Chamorro people which survive on the spirit of cooperation. Every part of their culture is manifested by the people kissing the hands of their elders, music, dance, passing of legends, chanting, handicrafts, courtship rituals, burial rituals, and the preparation of herbal medicines as well as requesting for forgiveness from their ancestors when they visit the jungle for supposed worship. For the Guam people, glimpses of their culture is also apparent in their local legends as well as folklore for example ancient spirits (taotaomona), Puntan Dos Amantes also known as doomed lovers leaping their death off two lovers point and the Sirena which is beautiful young woman who later became a mermaid.
War in the Pacific National Historical Park
The war in the Pacific National Historical Park comprises T. Stell Newman visitor center besides the seven national park sites which are found through Guam. The T. Stell Newman visitor centre is found just at the main gate to the naval Guam base on the ocean – side of the Marine Corps drive. The site is open to the public from Sunday through to Saturday from 9.00 am and closes at 4.30 pm but closed to the public on Christmas day, New Year’s Day and the American Thanksgiving Day. The units in the park are found at Asan Beach, Asan Overlook, Pit Guns, Mt. Tenjo or Mt. Chachao, Mount Alifan, Apaca Point and the Fonte Plateau (Pacifichistoricparks.org, 2015). It is given that within the seven park units are found coral reefs, wetlands, limestone forests, tropical savanna systems and mahogany forests and the activities in the area include among others hiking, fishing, picnicking, diving and snorkeling. Several of units in the park also include and contain World War II relics which are in form of structures and military equipment.
On the other hand the T. Stell Newman Visitor Centre there is state of the art museum which exhibits interactive displays, touch bins, oral histories and many other associated displays. The exhibits in the park tell a story of all the WWII events as well as the battle for Guam besides providing an overview of the natural resources found on the island and all the exhibits are made public. There is bookstore in the pacific historic park located inside the T. Stell Newman visitor center whose proceeds are used to support the national park service programs at the war in the Pacific National Historical Park (National Park Foundation, 2012).  The exhibits are very interactive, featuring the most modern technology with personal gripping stories, multiple language support and museum artifacts. Besides the exhibits, the T Stell visitor centre also plays a compelling and captivating ten – minute movie which features the battle of Guam in four languages (Nps.gov, 2015). There is non – profit partner of the park, the pacific historic parks, has impressive collection of educational publications on the pacific war, the Guam history and the natural or cultural resources in the region, all found in the bookstore.
Visitor Experience in the War of the Pacific National Historical Park
The war in the pacific national historical park is home to battle fields of the war and in this place there are trenches, gun emplacements as well as structures which all serve as silent reminders to the very bloody battles the World War II that engulfed the entire Guam. This park is known for historical resources as warm climate, sandy beaches with turquoise waters beckoning to visitors as well as residents who opt to enjoy the natural resources.
The place which is also known as the theater of the Second World War involved more than one – third of the surface of the earth although only a very minute fraction is the total land mass. There are huge distances, tactics, weapons and equipment of war which involved not just the Japanese and Americans but the British, Australians, the Dutch, Canadians, French, new Zealanders as well as the soviets in the war. The peoples of the pacific who were caught in the middle of the melee with their homelands and waters as centre stage of battles for the war. The visitors to the park have opportunities to learn about all the events that could have lead to the war outbreak, the Guam battle without mentioning the role of the Mariana Islands in the Second World War which lasted from 1941 to 1945(Nps.gov.2015). The former battlefields of the war, the gun emplacements and associated historical structures serve to remind visitors of the bloody battles of WWII that engulfed the pacific, the reason the park is also famously known for the historic resources and jungles besides the sandy beaches, and stunning coral reefs.
The visiting schedule to the park is clearly stated in terms of operating hours and seasons. The following table details a good schedule all opening for seven days a week but closed for thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s days.
Park FacilityOpenCloseT. Stell Visitor Center9.00 Am4.30 PmAsan Beach Restrooms7.00 Am 5.00 PmAsan Bay Overlook9.00 Am 5.00 PmGa’an Po...