Meet the Pioneers on Pagan, N. Mariana Islands

[@charlescanton4740]

Spent some weeks as a guest of Ben Aldan before the volcano erupted and then visited again for a couple days when Kin Flores (Freedom Air) took some National Geographic photographers up there. At the time of my first stay, there were six or seven families permanently living there, and that stay was simply an amazing experience for me. Fishing, hunting , gathering, and making tuba was all that was needed to live a good life. I wonder if any of the local weed survived...

[@DiscoverSaipan]

I cannot answer the weed question for you, Charles, but thanks for sharing that! Few people in the world have had a single visit, much less two!

[@ersinaandon4032]

Oh my gosh. I really really want do live on this island.

[@isaiahgreen262]

Whats stopping you 🤷‍♂️🍺🤣

[@wicked3564]

@@isaiahgreen262 probably money. A ticket to saipan from the states is upwards of $2000 and I can't even imagine what the cost is to have someone charter you on a boat or a helicopter from saipan to the island of pagan.

[@kcabrera1369]

It's such a uplifting euphoria to witness that we the people of the Marianas Islands ( Maug oh-da-way to Guahan ), are not the only people who are grateful for everything these islands have given for the survival of our Ancient Ancestors. Today we are still humbled, we're here and will always be. We came on shore as visitors, the land welcomed us like lost friends, and throughout history we have become one family.

[@isaiahgreen262]

Its KUAM not gua' han. Stop changing history to fit your fairy tale. And go get some coconut leaf to cover up your ano, bojobo🤣

[@DiscoverSaipan]

That's very poetic! I'll await your "Like Lost Friends" book or article about this! 🙂

[@aaaht3810]

"I live the life I love and I love the life I live." That sounds like a good enough reason to me.

[@sandrap.6530]

Camped there 35 years ago for a few days when no one lived there because volcano still active. Flew in on a small 6 seater plane using Japanese WW2 era runway. Remember wild cows, goats, pigs still roaming & crashing thru jungle when they realized you were nearby. Had to wear sunglasses 24 hrs/day because of the flies trying to land on your eyes for moisture. Black pristine sand beach & plumes of ash coming from top of volcano & landing on tent sounding like rain/hail. Saipan/Guam men would occasionally land on island by boat or plane with guns for getaway retreats & shoot & kill anything & everything there just because they could. Still had remnants of Japanese occupation & a Carolinian village. Sad to see military interested it & wish it could have remained uninhabited by man forever.

[@edgregory1]

Sandra. Glad you survived to tell the tale.

[@DiscoverSaipan]

Well, THAT was an adventure! I'm curious: what were the circumstances, motivations, goals (and companions?) surrounding that (1984?) trip?

[@nalahi7281]

I have a lot of respect for you. I myself would never do this. This is what it meant to be a true Pacific Islander.

[@DiscoverSaipan]

I'm sure the same human spirit lives inside you too! I'm sure you could and WOULD with the right motivation!

[@pinaula1300]

Nice to visit some day

[@chaisroom6631]

I want to go there... beautiful

[@isaiahgreen262]

What you waiting for you're not getting any younger 🤣

[@monekadeoro2651]

Awesome but Pågan doesn't rhyme with wagon or dragon

[@caffiend.]

Moñeka De Oro It rhymes with "log on."

[@joec1132]

I will visit if only there was a ferry boat going to all the other mariana islands...

[@wicked3564]

questions: what kind of costs are associated with getting from saipan to pagan as far as transportation? you mentioned a satelite phone and solar panels before, etc. are they still functional? can you share any info about that? Here on saipan there is local banana, local mango, local papaya, etc. however theres also a lot of species brought by the spanish, the philippines, etc. Do you recall what's available there? I lived in california before saipan. I only saw dolphins once, ever, in california and only a few. My girlfriend is a native carolinian in saipan and said shes NEVER seen them here in saipan. Any clue why theyre so plentiful on pagan but don't come near saipan despite the proximity? are there any other anomalies like this you can explain? livestock on the island? ive heard of wild cows? any news since 8 yrs ago?

[@DiscoverSaipan]

Lot's of questions! Cool! (a) at present, as far as I know, chartering a boat to Pagan for the 19-hour trip is probably your best option. There may be a helicopter option still available. You may contact me at [e-mail] and I'll share what I know. (b) If I'm correct, the satellite phone was provided by the Northern Island Mayor's office. I speculate that if there are current residents on the island, that there may be a means to contact the mayor. The satellite dish/wifi was provided by a research team investigating the volcano. I couldn't speculate as to its current condition as my trip was quite a while ago. Some of your other questions may require a bit of research, but I'll be sure to answer them in a video, OR on the blog at www.discoversaipan.com/blog so please be sure to subscribe to this channel as well as the blog!

[@wicked3564]

@@DiscoverSaipan Thanks man! would love to hear some stories maybe we could meet up at Cha sometime for a coffee!

[@mokadkad]

how can I come and live there?

[@felixkmgalanti9064]

If you are American, you just move there, Period! It's part of the USA.

[@lucian927]

They have started doing homesteading there. You would have to research it, I know in Rota you have to be a resident for 5 years before you can own land. That's the closest island to Guam. However since they need people you would most likely be welcomed as long as you live in harmony with them. These guys have been to McDonald's and probably Guam and inhabited places they chose to be here without those things even though I bet they chow bigtime when they get back to civilization lol

[@NotLRK]

I'm from saipan

[@isaiahgreen262]

No s#%t?!!!😉

[@hitoshisawa8479]

Where are the A6M ?

[@charlescanton4740]

Under a lava flow.

[@junjun3jj102]

Nice place to live with nature🐜

[@junjun3jj102]

😎👍CNMI Virgin Islands, pure natural beauty...

[@dsdc4452]

Chamorru pride baby

[@wicked3564]

sadly the petition is now longer signable and the save pagan site is now some indonesian gambling site? anyway thank you for sharing and I hope the people on the island are doing well and will be safe from military endeavors on the island.

[@sunshinesunny5298]

living on a volcanic island...........what happens when it erupts ? death ?

[@apakaaguon]

There's no apostrophe in Pagan!

[@smallboto]

For the people who want to move there, I don't think it's possible.

[@smallboto]

@@edgregory1 Stfu boomer learn how to take a proper selfie.

[@rogeliosexon7427]

it is good for planting marijuana ....

[@RabidNemo]

No kidding its 84 almost year round

[@waveriderz2687]

So... who actually owns the land? I can see someone asking if you have permission to be there.

[@RabidNemo]

Its part of the United States

[@isaiahgreen262]

Your ancestors 🤣

[@bcstudio4271]

Those people very look like most filipinos and south east asian people.

[@isaiahgreen262]

"My dream is to come here to preserve my sanity and reverse my mentality"😬 Stop drinking salt water 🤣🤣🤣

[@alextekkey6366]

I want do, but I like if WIFI here

[@DiscoverSaipan]

Alex, oddly enough, there WAS wi-fi on Pagan when I was there! There was a generator and solar panels, and though the wi-fi was slow and only turned on for limited hours, it was available! No more excuses! ha ha!

[@prettypumpkin6891]

Going the military didn't take it over. I can't imagine our government being so horrible. Well actually..I can. Shameful

[@isaiahgreen262]

Pagan smells like dagan 🤣

[@pedruperez5283]

The correct pronunciation of Pagan is "Paw" Gun", as in "Paw, go get your gun.

[@fullstar5151]

Stfu

[@edgregory1]

Thanks.

[@isaiahgreen262]

This one got slow connection 🤣