Glass bottom boat builder a frequent CNMI visitor

Posted on Feb 19 1999

Over nearly 20 years, Toru Hamada has made a lot of contributions to both CNMI tourism and specifically to the development of Managaha Island as an attraction.

Since 1980, Hamada Shonan Safety Glass Co., Ltd. has built the glass bottom boats that cruise the Saipan Lagoon and ferry tourists to Managaha, starting with the original Santa Rosa, operated to this day by Pacific Development Inc. In 1984, Hamada started working with PDI to develop Managaha tourism. Since then, he has built the
Coral Queen on Saipan as well as PDI’s to build the present Micronesian Dream dinner cruise boat on Guam.

But for Hamada business on Saipan with PDI has also been the key to a long-standing lifestyle built around some 100 visits for golf, fishing and other holiday activities. As he left Saipan following his most recent visit, Hamada said that he often brings his family and promotes Saipan to friends and business colleagues in Japan.

This trip wasn’t unusual. Hamada brought 12 first time Japanese visitors to show around the island and he plans to continue coming back once or twice a month.

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