Kepindau Waterfall
The larger of two small waterfalls found on Sokehs Island (the only waterfalls not on the main island of Pohnpei) is known as Kepindau and is located in Tamwarohi Kousapw on the private land of Joe Ferdinand and Dahkar Soulik. The stream and the area around it are also called by the same name, which means “bottom of the mangrove passage”. Kepindau and Pohn Pillap, the next stream to the west, were said to have been created when a giant eel wriggled up the hillside. Freshwater short-fin eels are sacred to Pohnpeians and play a recurring role in local myths; this particular story is just one entry in a greater eel-centric epic. Eels do indeed dwell in Kepindau and are protected and fed by the Ferdinand family. There’s a small pool just below the family’s cookhouse, where the eels can be observed. Bring some canned mackerel and the family will feed the beasts for your entertainment.
The hike follows footpaths that the family members use to get around on their land, climbing more or less straight up the slope on the west side of the stream. The waterfall is in a little rocky alcove that gets some very dramatic light in the morning hours. There is a shallow pool, but the amount of water varies. The best time to visit is a day or so after a period of heavy rain.
Pohn Pillap Waterfall
The second falls, Pohn Pillap, is found just over the border of Ipwal Kousapw on the land of Tony Martin and family. The name means “over the river.” Pohn Pillap is not as visually dramatic as Kepindau, but has a certain ambiance when there’s a lot of water (though there’s no pool here). Martin, who used to work for the Office of Historic Preservation, is extremely knowledgeable about just about everything Pohnpeian and can provide you with many fascinating tidbits about this site and others on Sokehs Island and beyond. He can also arrange for one of his older children to take you up to the falls if he doesn’t feel like guiding you himself. Offer $6-10.00 per group of five people or less.