The Northern Marianas is preparing for the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC) in Hawaii this June.

It was originally set for 2020 but postponed due to COVID. Now, what’s described as the world’s largest celebration of Indigenous Pacific Islanders is back!

Maggie Sablan chairs the CNMI committee.

She said, “It is the main event for all artists, artisans, and seafarers, everything to do with arts and culture and who we are. So it is very important to be represented at FestPAC whenever it is hosted and wherever it is hosted. It's very important for us.”

The Northern Marianas will send a delegation of 100 people to Hawaii.

“The hardest thing is selecting the hundred. You know, there's so many that are so deserving of this opportunity and this experience. And, you know, there's so many reasons why even the youth should go,” Sablan said.

Sablan said the delegation includes 60 dancers from 6 Chamorro and Carolinian groups. The remaining seats are for musicians, artists, crafters, seafarers, and canoe carvers.

Now, getting them there is still a challenge. With a tight government budget, they might charter a flight, but could also end up buying seats on a commercial flight if funding doesn’t come in on time.

Delegates like Milton Coleman Jr. with 500 Sails are raising funds to help get them there, too.

They’ll be bringing four canoes to Hawaii thanks to the help of Matson.

Coleman Jr. said, “It's an awesome opportunity. It'd be the first time that the CNMI has canoes from here representing our island at a Festival of the Pacific Arts. First time for these canoes and even for our people to have canoes that you know, are historically part of our of special place.”

Three traditional Chamorro sailing canoes and one Carolinian sailing canoe will join the opening ceremony in Hawaii.

“We're all excited on all ends of the Pacific Ocean to gather and share and learn from each other,” Coleman Jr. added.

This year’s theme is “Regenerating Oceania.”