War In the Pacific National Historical Park is a place of remembrance as the park commemorates those who participated in and were impacted by World War II. Each year on Memorial Day, the park puts up flags to serve as a reminder of the historical past and to give tribute to the soldiers and those who died in the war. With the national park’s rich historic site, it allows the community to be surrounded by its natural and cultural land. Guam however, has recently been impacted by typhoon Mawar, one of the most severe typhoons since Typhoon Karen that has occurred on November 7, 1962 and November 18, 1962.  

As I waited for the storm to pass, listening to the sounds of dangerous winds damage if not most of the mango trees and coconut trees that have also potentially damaged homes and vehicles. The week was long, with most residents having  no running water and power. Guam is still in a continuation waiting for everything to go back to normal as there is a potential it might take a month of recovery. 

At this time, my team and I patrolled the park seeing that the trees had been pulled from their roots and scattered in different parts. Water surge was also an issue as an abnormal rise in seawater pushed the sand forward, leaving debris on the pathways. This affects the  infrastructure of the land as high levels of current affect the park’s coral reefs. Rough undercurrents and changes in water temperature can level the animals feeling stressed. Another issue is that the typhoon has left some damage to the natural surroundings of the park. 

It is vital to spread awareness about the impacts of climate change and what could be done to help the chamorro people, as it not only affects Guam but the Mariana Islands as a whole. Climate change impacts the well-being of people on a global scale. This has also instilled damage to the indigenous people as the cultural heritage is being affected through the loss of land.