Tell us about yourself. Are you originally from here?
I was born and raised in the Marianas. I am a Chamorro, the indigenous cultural group found only in the Marianas. I graduated from high school in Saipan and went off to the U.S. for college where I received my bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Idaho.

Is there a unique CNMI culture? Where does this come from?
In fact, the CNMI has two cultures considered “indigenous”: the Chamorro, the first inhabitants of the Marianas who settled in the islands nearly 4,000 years ago, and the Carolinians, immigrants who moved here from the Caroline Islands about 200 years ago. These two groups have cohabited peacefully in the Marianas for many years. Archeologists believe the Chamorro and Carolinian people, like all other Pacific Islanders, came from Southeast Asia. Since their settlement in the Marianas thousands of years ago, they’ve developed a unique culture and language found nowhere else in the world.

Can you draw parallels between CNMI culture and those of the other South Pacific islands?
Yes, there are definite similarities between the Chamorro and Carolinians and other Pacific Islanders. For the most part, we all live on tiny islands with lush jungles, year-round tropical weather, and flora and fauna found only in the Pacific, which has resulted in similar lifestyles throughout this area. We all have a deep respect for our environment. We value our tight-knit communities where family and respect are key cultural elements that have kept our way of life intact for millennia.

How has the USA influenced local culture?
The United States has had tremendous effect on our local culture in the Marianas. Since the US administration of the Marianas began after WWII in 1945, and officially under our Commonwealth status in 1978, American influence has been dramatic, to say the least.

We’ve essentially adopted the American standard of living, with all the positive and negative aspects that come with it, while tailoring it to fit our needs in our remote islands. English is spoken in schools, businesses, and in daily interaction with family, friends and visitors, but the indigenous languages are still widely spoken throughout the islands. American pop culture is prevalent everywhere. The CNMI people are proud Americans, with a per capita military enlistment rate higher than any of the fifty states.

What’s the local population like in terms of ethnicity?
The CNMI population is roughly 53,000, with the vast majority residing on the capital island of Saipan. There’s a nice ethnic mix in the CNMI, with the Chamorro, Carolinian, and other Pacific Islanders comprising about 35 percent of the population; Asians, including Filipinos, Japanese, Chinese, and Koreans at 45 percent; and a good mixture of mainland Americans, Europeans, and others making up the remaining 20 percent of the population.

How did you get involved in the MVA? How long have you been there?
I became the Managing Director for the MVA effective April 18, 2017. Prior to that, I was a sales executive at Delta Air Lines. I was offered the position and after careful consideration I decided to accept it. It’s been a great ride thus far and we’re only at the beginning so stay tuned.

What are some of the most popular sites and attractions in the CNMI? Are there any new attractions we can look forward to in the years to come?
The CNMI has many popular sites and attractions, including the famed Managaha Island, Forbidden Island, Bird Island, Grotto, Kalabera Cave, Mt. Tapochao, Sugar King Park, Banzai Cliff, Obyan Beach, Micro Beach, Ladder Beach and more in Saipan; House of Taga, Atomic Bomb Pits, Taga Beach and more in Tinian; Tweksberry Beach, Bird Sanctuary, Teteto Beach, Latte Stone Quarry and more in Rota; and we have the only black sand beaches and active volcanoes found in Micronesia, in the Mariana Island of Pagan.

We have many new attractions coming to the CNMI soon, including a zip line and hang-gliding adventure tour, skydiving, and casino gaming. This is in addition to all other activities available now: scuba diving, snorkeling, underwater aquanaut trekking, jungle adventure tours, kite surfing, submarine tours, etc.

What is the composition of your visitors in terms of ethnicity?
The majority of our tourists come from Korea at roughly 40 percent, followed by China at 35 percent, Japan at 15 percent, and the rest from Russia, Taiwan, Philippines, the USA and Europe.

We’ve traveled to Tinian and Rota and they seem rather deserted. How many tourists go by there vs. Saipan?
Tinian and Rota are jewels in and of themselves. They offer our visitors peace and tranquility, and unique cultural and historical attractions that are not found anywhere in Saipan. Most tourists travel there via Star Marianas Air and United Airlines via Saipan. We have plans to further develop those islands to increase arrivals there.

What are some of the initiatives of the MVA to boost the volume of tourists coming into these two islands?
We currently have representative offices in Japan, China, Korea, Philippines, Taiwan and Russia. These offices are tasked with promoting Tinian, Rota, and Saipan in their markets and stimulating demand for travel to the CNMI. We are undergoing many marketing initiatives separately in each country using all types of media: social media platforms, TV/radio/print ads and articles, tie-ups and co-promotions with celebrities and other influential individuals and companies in each country.

Is there a guiding vision for the MVA and CNMI?
Our guiding vision for the MVA is this: to promote and develop the Northern Mariana Islands as a premier destination of choice for visitors from throughout the world while providing maximum quality of life for our people. We aim to attract high-quality, premium visitors who have positive impact on our economy with minimal impact on our environment.

We want to protect our quality of life for our people while maximizing economic benefits that come from a successful tourism industry.

Do you have any programs for developing other areas of tourism in CNMI?
The CNMI is beginning to see a rapid rise in tourist arrivals to the CNMI. We are currently undergoing a feasibility/sustainability study that will determine how much growth we need, how many hotel rooms we need, and how many tourists we need in order to sustain a healthy tourism industry. Any further developments will depend on what our needs are for the future.

There seems to be a large population of Filipinos in the workforce. Has the Philippines had a long history in CNMI?
The Philippines and the Marianas have a shared history as former colonies of Spain. The Marianas were under Spanish control from 1521 when Ferdinand Magellan landed on nearby Guahan, up until the Spanish-American War in 1898 when Spain handed off the Northern Marianas to Germany. The Filipino workforce began arriving here in bulk in the 1980s when the economic boom required a large labor pool to staff the construction and tourism industries. Since then, the Filipinos have become an integral part of our community.

What are they like to work with? Any specific traits that offer redeeming value in having them work here?
The Filipinos are among the most hardworking, loyal, and friendly people found anywhere in the world. They are kind and helpful. We value their presence in the Marianas.

If you could change one thing about the Filipino workforce, what would it be?
I wouldn’t change anything. They work hard and are reliable.

Let’s talk about you. Do you have family here? Do they study or work here?
I’ve been married to a beautiful Japanese lady for over six years. We have no children at this time. Our lives are so incredibly busy right now but we do plan to have a couple or more children in the very near future. My parents and youngest brother live in Saipan. I have an older brother in the US Army. He is stationed in Spain with his family. I have a younger sister living in Arizona with her family.

You probably set aside some “me” time for yourself. What do you do in your spare time?
In all honesty, with my incredibly hectic and unpredictable schedule, I prefer to spend my spare time relaxing at home or at my parents’ private beach, away from all the madness that surrounds me every day. My wife and I love to travel. I’ve been to nearly 40 different countries and I have many more my wife and I would still like to visit soon. That’s my escape from the ordinary: travel the world and unplug from everyday life.

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