MVA noncommittal on $10K to sponsor Kapena concert

The Marianas Visitors Authority board of directors has expressed support but does not want to commit $10,000 to sponsor a concert on Saipan by Kapena, which is considered one of Hawaii’s premier island bands.

“No action. We’re just not taking any action,” said MVA board chair Marian Aldan-Pierce during a board meeting last week.

Aldan-Pierce said the band is very popular but it’s not part of MVA’s mandate to stage concerts for residents.

Aldan-Pierce said this concert was kind of a surprise for her because she didn’t see any board approval on this, yet she is seeing it on social media that it is an MVA-sponsored event and that people are talking about it.

Posters show it’s an MVA event for Winter Island Music Festival featuring Kapena that will be held on Saipan on Dec. 29, 2019.

“I don’t know how it got to that point because I missed several board meetings so I don’t know if the board has approved this,” Aldan-Pierce said.

Some board members agreed that they never talked about the event.

Aldan-Pierce raised the issue after seeing the matter on Facebook.

Acting MVA managing director Judy C. Torres explained that MVA was approached by the Super Typhoon Network from Hawaii for sponsorship money in the amount of $10,000. In exchange for the MVA donation, Super Typhoon Network will lower the admission tickets from $40 to $25 and it’s going to be free admission for children under 12 years old.

Torres said 30 general admission tickets will be given to each music class at all public middle schools and high schools.

She said there will be 100 general admission tickets for MVA for promotional use, one general admission ticket to all MVA staff, and one vendor’s space for MVA for promotional use.

Torres said “MVA presents” will be written in all promotional fliers.

Torres said if the event is cancelled, the promoter will refund MVA’s money within 60 days of the original performance date.

MVA board vice chair Gloria Cavanagh said her question is why would the MVA be involved in this concert. It will be great for the local community, Cavanagh said, but not as far as promotion for MVA’s target market.

Aldan-Pierce said she believes that the board should not make any commitment and the board directors can buy their own tickets.

Cavanagh said MVA can perhaps sponsor such concert in the future when its financial situation improves.