Nan Madol served, in part, as a way for the ruling Saudeleur chiefs to organize and control potential rivals by requiring them to live in the city rather than in their home districts, where their activities were difficult to monitor.
O Nan Madol serviu, en parte, para que os gobernantes Saudeleur puidesen organizar e controlar aos seus potenciais rivais, requiríndolles vivir na cidade e non nas súas casas, onde as súas actividades houberan sido difíciles de supervisar.