A little girl watches from a doorway in the rural countryside of Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia.

This girl’s family is from Chuuk. Her family patriarch, Sam Saul, moved to Pohnpei as a young man after a storm devastated his home island.

Sam Saul at the the Nan Madol, located not far from his home. The ruined city is on the eastern shore of Pohnpei and was the capital of the Saudeleur Dynasty until the early 1600s.

For a small fee, locals will ferry visitors across the waterway that separates Nan Madol from Pohnpei. Or, you can take of your shoes and roll up your pants or skirt and wade across.

Waterfalls are a popular attraction in Pohnpei, including this one, about a 20 minute walk off the main road,

John Ehsa, the governor of Pohnpei, was a guest of honor at a ceremony where the crowning of a new king of one of the island’s five districts, Madolenhimw, was celebrated.

A slaughtered boar in Madolenhimw village was part of the festivities.

Pounding sakau, a mildly narcotic drink produced from the root of a plant, in Madolenhimw.

Sakau tastes muddy but quickly numbs the mouth upon first tasting it.

If offered sakau, do not decline it, for that would show disrespect. Take one sip and then pass it back.

After drinking sakau, there are few worries, as this Pohnpei man shows.

Siblings ride on a flat bed truck in Nett.

A Nett Elementary classroom, with Principal Primo Loyola, left, and Vice Principal Maxson Mallarme. The administrators would like more financial help from the government to protect campus sidewalks from the rain.

A Nett school girl, proudly wearing the school’s purple uniform.

Playing street baseball in Nett.

Doria Rosen is the U.S. ambassador to the Federated States. The embassy is located on Pohnpei.

A movie theater in Kolonia, Pohnpei. In December, Western influence is evident in more ways than one.

Micronesia was first discovered by the Spanish, then came the Germans, the Japanese and finally the Americans. But Micronesians had populated the islands centuries before.

Mwalok Church is part of the United Church of Christ. It’s a popular place of worship on Pohnpei.

A Pohnpei woman pauses for a few minutes with her dog at a cemetery on Pohnpei.

Emeliana Musasrik is the Migrant Resource Center coordinator for Micronesia. The centers help islanders who want to move to the U.S. understand how to navigate in a foreign culture.

Pohnpei has it’s share of problems, including substance abuse problems to contend with. So does America.

Fishing is an important industry in Micronesia, not only for personal consumption but as a way to develop the economy through commercial operations.

Many fishermen fear that climate change is destroying the habitat and fish stock that they depend on.

A fresh catch on Pohnpei.

Shooting pool at a house on the water in Nett.

Pirates are another threat that Micronesian fishermen have to contend with.

A warning sign near a school indicates the serious issues many Micronesians face with substance abuse.

Shelter can be simple and rustic on the island.

A bumper sticker says it all.

A memorial to fallen Micronesian soldiers at the airport in Pohnpei.  Islanders serve in the U.S. military in large numbers.

Tofol, the city center of Kosrae, is part of the Federated States.

The historic Lelu Church. Faith is central to Micronesians.

A Protestant church in Malem. Just about every Christian denomination can be found in Micronesia.

A neighborhood in Malem. Micronesian has both low-lying islands and mountainous regions.

Farming in Lelu. Some islanders see agriculture as helping to boost their economy but experts say it is not enough.

A gas station in Sansrik underscores the rural character of the island.

A boy in Walung paddles home.