Pacific/Micronesia Preservation Night today

Historic preservation projects of Micronesia take center stage during today’s Pacific/Micronesia Preservation Night, a dinner fundraiser of the Micronesian Endowment for Historic Preservation.

The dinner will be held at Charley’s Cabaret of Pacific Islands Club Saipan at 6 p.m. 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.

Evening will include presentations by Micronesian members of the endowment on historic preservation projects in their respective islands. Presentations will include: Vikings of the Pacific by Yap, The Importance of Cultural and Historical Preservation in the Pohnpeian Society, Underwater Cultural Heritage Program in the Federated States of Micronesia, Perseverance in Preservation by Guam, Lelu Ruins: Kosrae’s Precious Treasures, Nan Madol in Perspective by the Federated States of Micronesia, Canoes of the Marshall Islands, Historic Preservation and Cultural Tourism by the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), and Palau at Crossroads: Preserving Culture in the New Century.

“Pacific/Micronesia Preservation Night is going to be a wonderful evening for cultural and historical enthusiasts to learn about the successes and challenges of some important historic preservation projects throughout Micronesia,” said Historic Preservation Office director Epiphanio Cabrera, Jr. “Whether your motivation is intellectual curiosity or ethnic pride, we welcome the public to join us for this event.”

Gov. Juan N. Babauta and MEHP president Vicky N. Kanai of Belau will also speak at the event, and there will be cultural performances by the Talabwog Women Stick Dancers and ISA Dancers.

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 island of Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

MEHP meetings and annual consultation meetings with the National Park Service are being conducted on Saipan this week.