PCF Hawaii educational mission: One for the ages

Last of a two-part series.

The East West Center and the Polynesian Cultural Center served as the focal points for the third day sessions. For the meetings at the EWC, the Fellows were joined once again by their counterparts from Hawaii. The Center, which was opened during JFK’s administration and has hosted leaders of our nation and foreign heads of states through the years, provided the Fellows with the rare opportunity to meet with Dr. Charles Morrison, president of the EWC. A stimulating and timely presentation was then given by two individuals involved with the World Conservation Congress that will be holding its prestigious conference for the first time in the United States—thanks to Hawaii’s winning bid. The conference, often described as the “Olympics of Conservation,” will be held in Honolulu in September of 2016 with thousands of delegates attending from all over the world. Prior to the conference, Dr. Trisha Kehaulani Watson, a native Hawaiian cultural expert, (Watson also came to Saipan as a guest of the initial class of Fellows) touted a Pacific Islands Summit that will be specifically geared to the nations and territories of Oceania. A highlight of the Summit will be a gathering of vakas (canoes) from the Pacific as an acknowledgment of our cultural past with a nod to our future. Experts from the EWC then led the Fellows through a series of briefings on issues affecting the Pacific. With the looming debate in Congress over the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a distinguished panel of diplomats including the consuls general or their representatives from Japan, the Philippines, Korea and Australia shared their respective countries’ position on the 12-nation trade pact. The United States’ perspective was offered by EWC diplomat in residence Donald Sheehan. Through the presentations and a frank exchange of a question and answer session that followed, the Fellows gained a better understanding of the history and the pros and cons of the TPP. The final portion of the day took the Fellows on a scenic hour ride to Laie on the north shore of Oahu, home of the PCC where they toured the Samoan and Maori villages, dined on another hearty dinner, took in the highly acclaimed evening production, “HA” (the breath of life) and snapped dozens of photographs at Hawaii’s No. 1 paid visitor attraction. Seamus Fitzgerald, the chief of the Maori village and the PCC’s director of Talent Development, was such a big hit at the opening retreat of the inaugural class of Fellows at the Kanoa Resort last year that he was on the must-see list for the second class to visit with while on their Hawaii trip. He engaged the Fellows in a highly stimulating discussion of leadership from a Polynesian point of view, which blended in the value systems of the Samoan, Tongan, Tahitian, Fijian, Maori and Native Hawaiian cultures with a strong affinity for the family unit. Finally, living up to its billing as the finest Polynesian show in the Pacific, was the production “HA” (the breath of life) featuring a cast of hundreds of students from the nearby BYU-Hawaii campus whose employment at PCC helps subsidize their college educations. The long ride back to Waikiki made for a welcome respite to a fun-filled substantive day.

The mission’s final day ended up at Matson Navigation headquarters at the Sand Island Terminal where they were greeted warmly by its senior vice president of the Pacific Division, Vic Angoco, who is of Chamorro and Samoan ancestry. Angoco, a former resident of Guam, was extremely pleased to reconnect with his cultural heritage peers as he waxed eloquent on his experiences and familiarity with the people of the Marianas region. As he hosted the Fellows for breakfast, the personable Matson executive briefed them on a myriad of issues ranging from his leadership style, to an overview of Matson’s history of operations, to its role in the recovery of Typhoon Soudelor and to the company’s present and future plans for the Pacific region. He also reaffirmed Matson’s commitment to being a dominant transportation player in Guam and Saipan. “We are there for you today and will be servicing your needs tomorrow,” said Angoco. “Our commitment is long lasting and sincere.”

One of the best aspects of the trip was the presence of Tan Holdings honcho and PCF Marianas chair Jerry Tan to accompany the Fellows. Like the Fellows, he was involved and peppered the discussions with substantive questions and shared invaluable insights. Tan, who is well known in the Hawaii business community with private sector leaders who engage in work in Saipan and Guam, added instant credibility to the visiting group of young leaders and it was a statement on how important leadership development and mentoring is regarded in the Marianas region.

With the closing of the second class of Fellow’s years fast approaching with a graduation in mid-January, focus will now quickly shift to the recruitment for the 3rd class of Fellows. Alex Sablan, Tan Holdings executive and president of the Saipan Chamber, who also accompanied the Fellows to Hawaii, is hard at work making preparations for the recruitment process to begin. Plans are for the applications to be available in January, the selection to occur in the latter part of February and the opening retreat to be held in mid-March.

I’m not saying this because I’m biased about PCF but if you’re in your mid-20s to early 40s and looking for a wonderful year of intellectual stimulation, educational experiences second to none and networking with not only the emerging leadership of the CNMI but the Pacific region as well, please consider applying to become a Pacific Century Fellow. Besides, the application process is free! Stay tuned for further details. In closing, happy New Year and may 2016 be all that you pray and hope for you and your family.

•••

I join with the people of the Commonwealth and the Marianas region in expressing our heartfelt condolences over the recent passing of Gov. Eloy Inos. My family and I extend our prayers to the Inos family during this difficult time.

He was a strong supporter of the Pacific Century Fellows program in encouraging and supporting some of his talented staff members to become Fellows and never hesitated to meet with them and participate in our programs. The Pacific and Hawaii has lost one of its dear friends. I will miss him dearly. (Mufi Hannemann, Special to the Saipan Tribune)