Kalabera Cave development begins

Historic Kalabera Cave in Marpi got a special visit from Gov. Eloy S. Inos, acting U.S. Interior assistant secretary for insular areas Lori Faeth, Office of Insular Affairs director Nik Pula, and other CNMI officials after taking part in Friday morning’s groundbreaking for the historic site’s development project.
The governor and the Washington, D.C.-based officials led the ceremonial shoveling of dirt to mark the official start of the Kalabera Cave development project that the U.S. Department of the Interior is funding through the capital improvement projects program.

Inos said Kalabera Cave will finally get “the attention that it deserves,” given the area’s role in the islands’ history from the ancient times to the time right after World War II.

The governor and project manager Timothy R. Lang of TRL Architecture said the project will enhance sightseeing activities in the area with the installation of a viewing deck inside the cave and a ramp at the cave’s entrance, along with the construction of a prayer or offering area, pictographic and petroglyph interpretive panels, a 4-ft. wide nature trail approximately 200 ft. long and landscaping in the surrounding areas, among other things.

At the groundbreaking ceremony, Pula said OIA is “pleased” that the development of Kalabera Cave is moving forward, given that tourism is now the CNMI’s only major industry after the garment industry folded.

Faeth, for her part, said it’s a “pleasure” and “honor” to take part in the groundbreaking of a development project that respects “historic and cultural resources.” She added that it’s a “special surprise” to have the groundbreaking during her first visit to the CNMI.

Faeth and Pula, along with other CNMI officials, hiked from the site of the groundbreaking to the cave itself.

“This is beautiful,” Faeth told officials while they were sightseeing inside the cave.

Former Historic Preservation Office employee John Reyes showed visitors to the cave samples of the petroglyphs or rock carvings and rock drawings in the cave. Reyes also gave them a history of the cave.

Pula suggested that the CNMI may look into installing a mirror that could allow cave visitors to see much deeper into the cave, while others suggested installing solar-powered lighting system to light up the area for tours.

Local officials said the cave’s actual depth has not been measured. Years after the war, World War II ordnance, human belongings, and skeletons were still retrieved 30 to 50 feet from the cave’s entrance.

The Kalabera Cave development project, a part of the CNMI Destination Enhancement and Economic Plan, seeks to enhance the inside and surrounding areas of the cave.

The CIP Office under the governor’s office said the development project could reach almost $940,000.

This includes $601,612 for the civil works, miscellaneous concrete work, landscaping, railing and signage, as well as $140,371 for the installation of a chain link fence, latte huts replica and a prayer house. At a later time, the CIP Office is expected to also award a contract for the construction of a parking lot, walkway markings, and wheel stoppers.

The project’s architectural and engineering firm is SSFM-Saipan, while the construction contractor is USA Fanter Corp. Ltd.