By Bryan Manabat
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
THE Marianas Visitors Authority is preparing to relocate its administrative offices to the historic lighthouse on Navy Hill after the Department of Public Lands transferred ownership of the property to the tourism agency.
MVA Acting Managing Director Judy C. Torres announced the deed transfer during Thursday’s MVA board meeting, calling it a major step toward establishing both a new headquarters and a long-planned visitor and cultural experience center.
“We have the lighthouse,” Torres said. “I would also like to recognize the team for its support and assistance in preparing the documentation needed for this.”
Torres said the deed was transferred “at the direction and with the support of Gov. David M. Apatang and his administration,” adding that DPL Secretary Sixto Igisomar worked with the governor and MVA to finalize the agreement.
“DPL deeded the property to the Marianas Visitors Authority for our use as an office and for our planned visitor center for the entire CNMI,” she said. “I’m glad that has finally come to fruition.”
The deed was granted at no cost, Torres said, and MVA has six months to move into the facility. The agency currently operates from the Gold Beach Hotel under a month-to-month lease.
The lighthouse was built in 1934 during the Japanese administration of the NMI.
Damaged when the U.S. invaded the island during World War II, the lighthouse was rebuilt by the U.S. military and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
In 1990, the lighthouse was renovated and turned into a restaurant, but it shut down in the mid-1990s. The abandoned lighthouse was proposed to be the site of a visitor center for the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument in 2010.
In 2018, DPL leased the property to Bibong Corp., which opened a restaurant at the location in 2021. It shut down in April 2025.
Visitor center vision
Torres said the relocation will allow MVA to move forward with a long-standing proposal first advanced by former Managing Director Jamaika R. Taijeron to transform the lighthouse into a visitor and cultural experience center.
Taijeron’s concept envisioned the lighthouse as a “living gateway to the Marianas,” where visitors could receive official information, enjoy panoramic views, learn about the islands, engage with local culture and support local artisans.
Torres said MVA intends to carry that vision forward.
“We will be establishing a visitor center where artists can display their arts and crafts and demonstrate how they create them,” she said. “It’s going to be smaller because the space is limited, but we will have some activities indoors and possibly some outdoors on the grounds.”
The lighthouse grounds previously hosted street markets, and Torres said continuing those activities remains under discussion.
She added that the site aligns with MVA’s branding goals.
“Right now, tourism is an experience-driven industry, so what we’re aiming for is providing memorable experiences,” she said. “One of the pillars of our Far From Ordinary brand is our culture and our community. This is one way of bringing that brand to life.”
Torres said relocating to public land will help MVA reduce long-term operating costs.
“The lighthouse offers spectacular views of our sunsets and the ocean,” she said. “Plus, it is on public land, so we will be able to save money and use those funds for other efforts to promote our destination.”
MVA had previously explored other public land options, including an undeveloped parcel closer to its current location, but Torres said the cost of constructing a new building was prohibitive.
“We were given the opportunity to use another parcel of public land, but when we looked at the cost of constructing a new building, it was simply too expensive,” she said. “We found that this option would be much more economical.”
The lighthouse sustained some damage during recent typhoons, although Torres said the main building remains intact. MVA will conduct a full inspection before beginning repairs and configuring the facility for its new uses.
“We still need to go over there and conduct a thorough inspection,” she said. “There is a lot of cleanup that needs to be done. Then we need to configure the space for offices and the visitor and cultural center.”
MVA has been setting aside reserve funds for a future building project, Torres said, and those funds will now be used to prepare the lighthouse site.
She added that the project could eventually grow into a broader cultural showcase for the CNMI.
“This will be a start,” she said. “Hopefully, it will continue to grow and improve. We look forward to working with the community and our partners to bring this visitor center to life and get it up and running.”
Bryan Manabat was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College where he also studied criminal justice. He is the recipient of the NMI Humanities Award as an Outstanding Teacher (Non-Classroom) in 2013, and has worked for the CNMI Motheread/Fatheread Literacy Program as lead facilitator.
