500 Sails would like to send a special message of thanks to all of our crew, sponsors, volunteers, family members, and community members who made the sail to the Tinian Pika Festival a successful one. The crew weathered rough conditions and set sail against 15-20 foot waves on the way to Tinian on March 11, 2022. The crew made it safely with the support of Captain Larry Sharry on the Weniol and the two fishermen on the boat from the Asin Fish Market, Antonio Maestro and Errol Moines. The crew returned safely back to Saipan on the evening of Monday, March 14, 2022, with support from Captain Sharry of the Weniol, the Department of Boating Safety, and the Department of Public Safety. Although they were unable to provide community rides due to the continued small craft advisory, the crew gained a memorable experience under the guidance of their captains, and the voyage was a success, nonetheless. The canoes, their captains, and crew are listed below.
• Neni: captained by Master Navigator Mario Benito with crew April Repeki, Lolobeyong Benito, & Dennis Jr. Ngirchongor
• Auntie Oba: captained by Master Navigator Antonio Piailug with crew Concepcion “Connie” Camacho, Marley Partain, Frankie Rettaenliug & Snyder Taisakan
• Richard Seman: captained by Tim Onopey with crew Mayson Nukuto, Beouch Ngirchongor, Liamwar Rangamar & Brandy Onopwy
• Anaguan: captained by Leo Pangelinan (from Saipan to Tinian) & Henry Maliuweluo (Tinian to Saipan) with crew Andrew Roberto, Marjorie (Atalig) Daria, Jenny Chhea, & Angelika Narvaez
• Escort boat Weniol: Captain Larry Sharry & crew: Sain Smith, Esekiel Smith alongside 500 Sails volunteer Rose Benito.
Our voyaging endeavors would not be possible without the support of our community sponsors.
We give a special thanks to the Marianas Visitors Authority through Managing Director Priscilla Iakopo and to Vida Borja from the Tinian MVA Field Office for their donation of funds for supplies, to the 22nd Tinian Legislative Delegation through the Office of Sen. Karl King-Nabors for covering our on-land transportation and fuel, and to Mr. & Mrs. Juan M. Atalig & family for time spent with the crew, providing tables and chairs, and hot, warm, home-cooked meals to crew upon arrival to Tinian after their journey. Our gratitude goes out to all the Saipan & Tinian visitors and residents who came out to the water to break bread with our Master Navigators and crew, check on our health and safety and overall, share in our sacred journey. Gratitude is also extended to Avis Rent-a-Car and Kana’s Rental for the excellent services provided for the crew’s transportation and shelter.
A special heartfelt thanks to the following agencies for allowing their staff to participate in this voyage: the CNMI State Medicaid Agency, U.S. Federal District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands, the Northern Marianas Humanities Council, the Department of Community & Cultural Affairs, the CNMI Public School System, the Marianas Alliance of Non-Governmental Organizations, and the Weniol Fish Mart. Your support allows us to fulfill our mission of cultural revitalization by providing a pool of qualified sailors the opportunity to further develop their maritime skill sets.
Last but not least, we send out thanks to the families and friends of the navigators and sailors who supported their loved ones to sail on this voyage, and all of the 500 Sails staff and team who worked behind the scenes to coordinate logistics for this sail, KSPN and Saipan Tribune for the media features covering our sail, and to the Indigenous Affairs Office for a memorable send-off. We appreciate all of the support we continue to receive from the community and look forward to more journeys to be made in the coming years, as we revive our cultural maritime traditions and chart the course for a new generation of seafarers.
The many people mentioned shows how it takes a community to support sailing and seafaring traditions in the Marianas. Thank you for joining us on this trip.
Si Yu’us Ma’ase yan Olomwaay!
The Tinian Sail to Pika Festival is a part of the Traditional Voyaging Track under the 500 Sails Cultural Maritime Training Center or CMTC, a Social and Economic Development Strategies or SEDS grant awarded to 500 Sails by the Administration of Native Americans. The CMTC offers our islands’ youth vocational and professional training opportunities related to our maritime cultural heritage.
This project was made possible by support from the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as part of an Administration for Native Americans SEDS grant. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the funders.
About 500 Sails
500 Sails is a 501(c)3 and CNMI tax-exempt nonprofit organization dedicated to reviving, promoting, and preserving the maritime cultural traditions of the Mariana Islands through community engagement in canoe cultural values and activities. 500 Sails’ vision is a healthy thriving native community that has successfully integrated traditional cultural values into modern life. Major supporting partners include the CNMI Office of Indigenous Affairs, IT&E, and the Chamolinian Cultural Village Inc. – Canoe Federation.
For more information on programs, call (670) 323-7245 (SAIL), email info@500sails.org, or follow 500 Sails on Facebook and Instagram.
The canoes, from right, Neni (white sail), Anaguan (beige sail), Aunty Oba (yellow sail), and Richard Seman (red sail) are parked under cloudy skies off the shore of Tinian after arrival for the October 2021 Taga Festival.
500 Sails Sailors in Tinian enjoying an evening at the Pika Festival 2022 after a challenging voyage from Saipan. From left, top row: Andrew Roberto, Brandy Onopwy, Angelika Narvaez, Liamwar “Lia” Rangamar, Concepcion “Connie” Camacho, April Repeki, Beouch Ngirchongor. Bottom: Jenny Chhea, Marjorie Atalig-Daria, and Marley Partain.
