Historic preservation officers to meet on Saipan

Regional leaders in historic preservation will descend on Saipan next week as the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs’ Historic Preservation Office hosts the 25th Micronesian Endowment for Historic Preservation and Annual Consultation Meetings with the National Park Service.

MEHP was founded 25 years ago and is a non-profit corporation dedicated to the research and preservation of the cultural and historic resources of Micronesia. The nine members are the HPOs representing the Republic of Belau, the Federated States of Micronesia, the State of Chuuk, the State of Pohnpei, the State of Yap, Kosrae, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Territory of Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

“It is an honor for the CNMI to host this year’s meetings on the 25th anniversary of the Micronesia Endowment for Historic Preservation, one of the key entities working toward the preservation of Chamorro, Carolinian and other Micronesian culture and history,” said HPO director Epiphanio Cabrera, Jr. “We are looking forward to an intense week of work reviewing our successes and challenges in the work of protecting and preserving these resources.”

Cabrera said this year’s summit will be in time for the scheduled end of construction work on the Visitors’ Center. He added, though, that Saipan will still host the event even if the center is not complete yet.

MEHP meetings will be open to the public on Feb.7-8 from 8am to 5pm at Pacific Islands Clubs-Saipan. Cabrera is inviting the public to take part in this event because next year the meeting will be on another island.

Members will also participate in site tours of Saipan and Tinian during the week. Members will conduct annual consultation meetings with National Park Service Region IX program coordinator Paula Creech and NPS regional administrator Davie Looke late in the week.

One of the highlights of the week will be a Pacific/Micronesia Preservation Night on Feb. 8, featuring cultural performances or presentations by each member territory of MEHP. There will also be a turnover ceremony of the memorabilia related to the Nanyoji Temple and the “Nanyo Kasei” Girls High School built in 1934 on Saipan. The event will be attended by Gov. Juan N. Babauta and his officials.

Proceeds raised by the dinner show will go to the endowment for historic preservation projects. Tickets are $30 and are available from the CNMI Historic Preservation Office or at the door. The performance will be from 6pm to 10pm at Charley’s Cabaret, PIC. (Marconi Calindas)