BANK of Saipan and 500 Sails on Wednesday announced a partnership in promoting local maritime tradition.
From left, Bank of Saipan President and CEO John Z. Arroyo, 500 Sails co-founder Emma Perez and executive director Pete Perez stand next to Animuyi now on display in the BoS lobby in Chalan Laulau.
Animuyi, one of 500 Sail’s traditional canoes, is now on display in the lobby of BoS on Beach Road in Chalan Laulau. Also on display are replicas of two other proas or voyaging canoes, Che’lu and Mikaela.
BoS President and CEO John Z. Arroyo said promoting the island community’s maritime tradition is a way of revitalizing “the heart of our culture and our history that was strong years and years ago, and that we have lost along the way.”
He said getting that cultural tradition back “is so important to us as a group of people so we can again learn how to sail and navigate the waters for which we were once so dominant.”
He added, “We are the CNMI’s first local bank. We are the bank of the CNMI. And what better way to make that impression than to be part of what Pete Perez and Emma Perez are trying to do,” he said, adding that BoS is honored to help and support 500 Sails and other local nonprofit organizations.
“It is our pleasure to do that,” Arroyo said.
Emma Perez, the co-founder of 500 Sails, said exhibiting the Marianas’ traditional canoes at the island’s local bank “is the beginning of a relationship that we are hoping to build up into possibly a canoe festival….”
Right now, Emma Perez said, 500 Sails has six canoes.
Pete Perez, executive director of 500 Sails, said the Mariana islands used to have a maritime community. “It was such a nice time and we are all very happy to have them back,” he added.
To once again see proas sailing the Saipan lagoon will bring joy to everyone especially the children who are excited to sail on traditional canoes, Pete Perez said.
“It’s really fun, and it’s making Saipan a different place when you wake up and you see canoes on the water, you know, you just can’t help but get goosebumps. So that is where we’re going,” he added.
From left, Bank of Saipan President and CEO John Z. Arroyo, 500 Sails co-founder Emma Perez and executive director Pete Perez pose for a photo in the BoS exhibit room that features replicas of traditional canoes.
