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Even before Spanish
settlers arrived in the sixteenth century, the city of Hagatna Guam
was a central location for the Chamorro people of Guam. Now the
capital of Guam, Hagatna has
remained an important coastal city in Guam and the center of
government on the island.
Hagatna Guam was formerly known as Agana, but in 1998 the spelling was
changed to more closely match the Chamorro pronunciation. With a
major shopping center and a great beach, Hagatna Guam is a central
part of life in Guam to this day.
The history of Hagatna
stretches far back into the days when the island was occupied solely
by the Chamorro people. In 1668, the first Spanish missionary to
arrive on the island, Padre San Vitores, made his way to the city
known today as Hagatna. Although the city was not the Guam capital at
the time, it was a major city nonetheless. The first Spanish church
in Guam was built in Hagatna, and later most of the indigenous
population of Guam would be forced to relocate to the city.
Hagatna has been the
capital of Guam since the Spanish-American War of 1898 when the United
States captured Hagatna from the Spanish. Throughout the Japanese
occupation of the Guam capital many of Hagatna’s historical sites were
damaged, as was much of the city itself. When Guam was recaptured
from the Japanese the U.S. military attempted to reconstruct the Guam
capital, and today many of Guam’s only straight roads can be found in
Hagatna.
Despite the turbulence
experienced by the capital of Guam
over the years, there are still a number of historical monuments and
remains can still be viewed by tourists. Sections of buildings left
over from the time of Spanish rule can still be seen in the
Plaza de Espana near
the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Agana. Near the
Plaza de Espana in
this capital Guam provides is
Latte Stone Park, where visitors can see pre-Spanish stone pillars
referred to as Latte Stones.
In addition to checking out
the historical sights, Hagatna is also a great place for
shopping. Hagatna is one of the
only villages on the island divided into straight city blocks, and
travelers will find areas with shops, cafes and other restaurants
throughout the heart of Hagatna. Shopping enthusiasts in particular
will enjoy the Agana
Shopping Center, the Agana Theaters and the
Chamorro Village
shopping area. Hagatna is also the main site of the Liberation Day
festival each year in July, with a week of carnivals and feasting
leading up to July 21st. Visitors looking for
Guam hotels or Guam resorts during
the festival will want to book well in advance.
Whether you come to enjoy
the nightlife of Hagatna, eat out or shop in the many duty-free
shopping areas, Hagatna is worth a visit. Not only is the city a
major historical site and the
capital of Guam, but there are of course excellent beaches on the
coast as well. The city is just a short drive from Tumon,
Barrigada and other centrally
located cities on Guam.
-Hagatna is the capital of Guam. It is located in the center of the
island and part of the Kattan (Eastern) District. The village derives
its name from the word “haga”. “Haga” means blood and that this
village came about due to the bloodlines of families and relatives
that helped establish this village. Hagatna became a village when the
Spaniards decided that the area be the capital of the island. Hagatna
is where you find places named after the saints, as the city is also
the seat of the island’s religion – Catholicism. The three branches of
government: Judicial, Legislative, and Executive are located here.
Also, it is the center of all commercial activities with legal
offices, banks, department/variety stores, insurance, technical and
professional services and recreation facilities. | 
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