We appeal to the community for help

I have been a part of the Kan Pacific Saipan, Ltd. family for seven years now. There are no words to describe the beauty and passion that this company has for its people and the community as a whole. Since being employed here, all I’ve ever experienced are joyful and happy moments in the work environment. There are some stressful moments but those are either because I am hustling to meet a deadline or somehow I just can’t balance my work. Other than that, I have considered my work to be my second home. It’s home away from home.

Kan Pacific Saipan, Ltd. has been here for 37 years that in my family, it’s been in our generation to be employed here. My mother used to be a cashier here back in the ’80s right after high school along with my auntie (her sister), back when Kan Pacific was only operating as a golf course and a restaurant on Navy Hill. My mother came back again to be a cashier back in the early ’90s. Now with me, it’s my first job ever and I myself am surprised to see that I am still employed here after seven years. Working here has been in our family that some of my first cousin and siblings have worked here either through direct hire or for summer jobs.

Some people might judge us just because we are way to the north end of the island and away from where it’s busy but it’s like a small piece of heaven for us due to the quietness of the area. Because of our location, it’s like we are a mini-paradise on top of a paradise, being away from all the crowds and where it’s busy. We have the beautiful views of the ocean, the Suicide Cliff just being to the north of us, and the beautiful orange flame trees.

All of these are going to change in 2018 when our lease is up. Our tourists, along with our repeater guests, won’t be able to experience what we have to offer when our lease is up in 2018. My fellow colleagues and I won’t have a job if there is no Kan Pacific Saipan, Ltd. anymore. I won’t have my second home anymore, my home away from home. A lot of us will be affected and I know that I will be affected emotionally as well since I have been part of this family for seven years now.

Kan Pacific Saipan, Ltd. is a good, law-abiding company in paying our taxes, paying our employees their wages and salary, and giving back to the community. For the past 37 years, Kan Pacific has been giving back to the community and now I am asking for the community’s help in return to please help support us in getting a new lease with DPL. I do not think that it’s fair that, come our lease expiration in 2018, DLP will give my second home away to the highest bidder. It’s not just fair for me, but also to the owners of the company—the Kitami family who was here to build Kan Pacific up from scratch to what it is right now.

We have 37 years of proven records to show proof that we have been here for 37 years and hopefully we can be here for much longer. These past 37 years proves that no matter what the situation is in regards to the economy, tourism, etc., Kan Pacific Saipan, Ltd. has always been here and is still here to serve its people and the community and plans to continue serving.

Elfleda ‘Ella’ Santos
Accounting Supervisor
Mariana Resort and Spa