During yesterday’s unveiling ceremony, acting Gov. Eloy S. Inos said the new display will “showcase our culture and create a warm, inviting and attractive environment to welcome traveling guests to the island.”
Inos said the replica huts were donated by the Pacific Islands Club for the benefit of the tourism industry.
“This is an example of the strong partnership that exists between our government and our private business sector for the CNMI’s common good,” Inos said.
Heinz Staffler, a contractor who has been on island for the last 32 years, made the replica traditional huts.
Staffler said he patterned the replica huts after the ancient Chamorro stone houses, commonly referred to as latte or Taga stone structures.
He said it takes up to three weeks of tedious work to build one replica hut. The huts are 30 inches long, 18 inches high and 20 inches wide and made of ironwood or pine tree branches.
Staffler used ordinary grass for the roof and cement for the posts.
He said he made six replica huts, including the two replica huts at the airport.
Staffler said PIC paid $1,200 for the replica hut which was unveiled yesterday in the arrival area. The other replica hut in the departure area costs $1,000.
Staffler said two big traditional huts will be constructed in front of the Kalabera Cave soon.
“We are just waiting for the go-signal, but we hope to have the huts constructed early next year,” he said.
Staffler is from Austria and he arrived here to build the Intercontinental Hotel, which became Daichi and is now Fiesta Resort & Spa.
He has built 51 houses on Saipan.
Staffler said he is willing to make replica huts for individuals who may be interested.
The replica hut displays at the airport were among the improvement projects initiated by the Marianas Visitors Authority.
The others were the airport improvement project created under the five-year strategic initiatives for 2006-2010, the kid’s play area developed by Northwest Airlines in 2007, the welcome and farewell signage and Gov. Benigno Fitial’s welcome sign installed in 2008, and the eco-tourism display sponsored by Tasi Tours/PMY installed this year.
MVA’s upcoming airport enhancement projects include a sports hall of fame and a diving photo display.
