In the time before humankind walked freely across Guam, when the island was still young and full of power, there lived giants who roamed the land. These giants were said to be taller than coconut trees, strong enough to move mountains, and wise in the ancient ways. They were the first caretakers of the island, shaping rivers and valleys with their great hands. Among them were two who dwelled near Hagåtña Bay, where the sea met the cliffs of stone.
The giants watched as the tides rose and fell each day, flowing in and out through the narrow channel. They believed the water came and went too freely, and they wished to keep the wealth of the sea. its fish and treasures for themselves. One night, they decided to close the channel forever.
The taller of the two giants said, “We will build a wall across the mouth of the bay, and no fish will escape us again.” His companion agreed, and together they searched for a boulder large enough to block the sea’s passage. After a long hunt, they found a colossal rock deep in the hills. It was so massive that it glowed faintly in the moonlight, as if it held the island’s spirit within.
The giants placed their hands beneath it, lifted it from the ground, and began their journey toward the coast. Their steps shook the valleys, and their footprints filled with water to become ponds. They carried the boulder all night, moving slowly but steadily under the bright stars. The sound of the waves grew louder as they neared Hagåtña Bay.
But as dawn approached, a brilliant star rose in the east. Its light shimmered across the sea like a golden flame. The giants paused to watch. The glow mesmerized them. They had never seen a star so beautiful, and they forgot the task before them.
The smaller giant spoke softly, “Look at that light, brighter than all others. Surely the gods have placed it there as a sign.”
The taller one nodded, “Let us rest until the star fades, and then we shall finish our work.”
They lowered the boulder to the ground and sat upon it, their eyes fixed on the sky. The waves lapped gently at the shore, whispering secrets of time. Slowly, as the morning sun rose, the light of the star faded. The giants, lulled by the sound of the sea and their long labor, drifted into sleep.
When they awoke, the tide had risen high. The sea roared with laughter, as though mocking their delay. The boulder had grown too heavy to lift again. No matter how hard they tried, their strength could not move it. The sea had claimed it for its own. Exhausted and ashamed, the giants left the rock where it rested, half-buried in the sand and water.
That rock became known as Dinagi Laolao, meaning “the Unfinished Rock.” It remained near the bay as a reminder of the giants’ failure and of how even great power is nothing without focus and discipline. Islanders who passed by would point to it and say, “That is the rock of the giants who were distracted by a star.”
As time went on, the giants vanished into legend. Some say they turned into stone themselves, blending into the cliffs and mountains they once shaped. Others believe they returned to the heavens, leaving behind the great rock as their final mark upon the world.
The people of Guam came to see Dinagi Laolao not as a story of failure but as a lesson. It was a reminder that even the strongest beings could falter when their purpose was forgotten. The story was told by elders to children, who listened wide-eyed under the night sky, looking up at the stars that had once captivated the giants.
Generations later, travelers who came to the island marveled at the massive stone by the coast. Some tried to measure it, some tried to move it, but none succeeded. It became one of the great landmarks of Guam, standing as silent testimony to an ancient age when giants walked the land.
Even today, when the moon rises over Hagåtña Bay, the stone gleams faintly as though touched by that same star. The sea winds hum softly through the rocks, and the people remember. They tell the tale of the giants who forgot their purpose, of the star that stole their attention, and of the unfinished task that became an eternal lesson.
The story of Dinagi Laolao is more than a legend. It is a reflection of human nature itself that even the mightiest among us can falter when distracted, and that strength without focus achieves nothing lasting. The giants’ legacy lives on not through their wall but through the wisdom their story imparts.
Moral Lesson
The legend of Dinagi Laolao teaches that purpose and perseverance are greater than power. Even great strength means little without attention and discipline.
Knowledge Check
1. Who were the main beings in the story of Dinagi Laolao?
They were two powerful giants who lived near Hagåtña Bay.
2. What task did the giants attempt to complete?
They tried to block the mouth of the bay with a giant rock to keep the fish from escaping.
3. What caused the giants to fail in their task?
They became distracted by the beauty of a bright star and stopped to rest.
4. What does the Unfinished Rock represent in Chamorro culture?
It symbolizes the importance of focus and the lasting consequences of distraction.
5. What lesson do the people of Guam learn from this story?
That strength and power are not enough without purpose and determination.
6. Where does this story originate?
It originates from the Chamorro people of Guam in the Mariana Islands.
Source: CHamoru Legends: A Gathering of Stories by Teresita Lourdes Perez (2019), University of Guam Press.
Cultural Origin: Chamorro (Guam, Mariana Islands)
