It wasn’t until 60 years later that my father told me of the story of Lt. JG Hamilton, a WWII pilot that crash landed near my family’s property in Machanano, Yigo.

I had never seen my father cry until that day.

At fourteen, that incident would impact the decisions that he made for decades to come.

I started looking for evidence of Lt JG Hamilton shortly after I learned about it. As is the case many times, life got in the way and my enthusiasm waned with each dead end I encountered. I picked up the research again about a year ago. I still haven’t found him but am determined to continue looking.

This WWII Dauntless pilot resembles Lt. Hamilton according to my father.

Watch a video clip from Families Under Siege, a video project of the Guam Humanities Council.

The voyage from Guam to Rota of the 33-foot outrigger sailing canoe, Saina, was a monumental event for the Chamorro psyche. It was the first time in almost 300 years that a Chamorro seafaring vessel had made the two-way journey. The Spanish colonization of the Marianas had virtually extinguished the islanders' seafaring tradition; during that period of subjugation, inter-island travel was forbidden and all oceangoing vessels, destroyed. Thus ended a rich seafaring custom that early European explorers noted time and time again - or so they

Local artist Judy Selk Flores is featured in this issue of spotlight on Art. Her artwork adorns the walls of many of Guam’s hotels, restaurants and professional offices providing the viewer with a glimpse into Guam’s past. Her vibrant images can be found in homes and offices worldwide.