The write-up describing the story board located at the back of the Abai, which is devoted to the legend of UAB or Chuab, talks of this famous legendary figure as a “Woman”. This is completely wrong. This famous legendary figure, as every child growing up in Palau since ancient times knows, was a boy who grew into a giant and had to be destroyed by fire by the residents of Angaur before he consumed everything on that small island. We hope the many visitors to the Museum area every day, both foreigners and locals, would be given the opportunity soon to know the correct sex of UAB. We urge PVA to immediately remove that erroneous placard at the Museum ground and replace it with one that has the correct sex for UAB.The old legend says that when UAB was completely enveloped by fire, he stood up and, in his death throes; he fell into the ocean north of Angaur Island. His body formed the islands and villages in what are now the islands of Koror and Babeldaob. One part of the legend says that his head, which fell farthest north, formed the village of Ngarchelong and that is why when the Rubaks of Palau (Traditional Chiefs) get together for a feast, the Rubak from Ngarchelong always get the head of the pig as his share. Another says that UAB’s legs formed Peleliu and that is why strong, fast runners usually come from that island. A third more modern offshoot of the legend says that UAB’s stomach became the village of Ngiwal, and that is why the people there are supposed to eat 7 full meals a day in addition to consuming 9 soups in between meals. There may be other interesting stories associated with the legend of UAB, and we hope the Palau Society of Historians would make them available to the general public for all of us to enjoy.
The Traditional Abai at the Museum ground is a masterpiece of Palauan building art
The Museum Abai, built in July 1969, may be one of the last genuine Palauan Abai in the country. Other traditional abai’s may still be found in a few other villages, including the ones in Airai. The construction of the Museum Abai was historically significant. Under the supervision of Ngaremlengui Master Builder Ngirasibong Ngiracheliong young men from Ngaremlengui prepared all the parts of the Abai that would be transported to Koror for assembly. Materials for the building came from many different parts of Palau. Ukall and Dort Wood came from the Rock Islands of Koror. Mekekad wood came from various mangrove forests in Babeldaob. Thatch roofings were prepared in Ngarchelong. It was said at the time that the Palauan Museum Abai was constructed according to genuine Palauan architectural principles, which symbolized the skills, craftsmanship, arts, history, culture and the unity of the people of the Palauan islands. Those who helped in the design and construction of this genuine Palauan Abai included some very important people at the time, who were authorities on Palauan customs and culture. They included Ngiraklang Malsol, Laurence Otaor, and Dudiu.
