The girls, through the club, launched the community college’s first Polynesian dance group.
Ashley Fujihira, founder of the club, is the daughter of Joseph and Judi Fujihira. She attends the college and is a graduate of Kagman High School.
Winona Blanco Maratita, daughter of Board of Education member Lucia Blanco-Maratita and the late David Q. Maratita, attends Oregon State University, and is a graduate of Tinian Jr./Sr. High School.
Alexis Remee Bowie, daughter of Leonora Bowie and George Matsunaga, attends Linn-Benton Community College and is a Marianas High School graduate.
In an interview, Fujihira said: “Since the very beginning, my peers here found out I’ve a very different background. They were interested in the Polynesian dance moves I demonstrated that they all tried to learn them. My college dance instructor, Katherine Sanders, noticed that the students enjoyed the dance styles and insisted I perform for the school and hold workshops.”
The Polynesian dance club was launched last January, said Fujihira. She has been attending the college for over a year now.
“We performed in the college’s second Annual Spring Dance Concert which created a pleasant air of diversity because our dance styles are not something the community of Albany see every day,” she said.
As a result, “I received more requests from students to learn the dance moves. So my instructor requested for a workshop and is also referring dancers and me to do performances for dinner shows and other events.”
Maratita and Bowie moved to Oregon in the fall of last year. Although Maratita attends Oregon State University she joined the dance club.
“Our bond is much stronger because we all share one huge thing in common and that is the CNMI, which is our home. Our families and friends are there and I know they support us 100 percent,” said Bowie.
Maratita said they share and spread the peace and serenity of the islands through their dancing. The girls also talk about their home, culture, food and their families.
They believe that dancing is an important activity in preserving the history and tradition of the islands.
