It’s hard to put my finger on it, but in some ways the island is very American (which makes sense, since it is) and in other ways it is very, very foreign; I think this is part of its appeal.
Unless you are a history buff, lived during World War II, work in the Department of the Interior's Office of Insular Affairs, or are from Saipan, you might not have heard much about it. This tropical Pacific island, located about 120 miles north of the US territory of Guam (umm…hopefully you’ve heard of it – but that’s for another time), is the largest inhabited island in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. A Huffington Post article rather boldly proclaimed “Saipan Is The Most Beautiful Place In America You've Never Heard Of.” And, while all superlatives can be the subject of endless happy hour debate, I agree it is a nice place, worth getting to know a little better.
Without writing a full-blown historical treatise, here is Saipan’s history in a flash: in the beginning (certainly for the purposes of this article) the island was inhabited by the indigenous Chamorro, who in the 16th century came under Spanish rule, who were sort of replaced in the late 19th century by the Germans, until the Japanese captured the island in World War I, thence liberated by the United States in World War II, after which time Saipan became part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (a United Nations trusteeship administered by the United States), until it, and various other islands in the Marianas island chain, became a commonwealth of the United States. At some point in this timeline, the Chamorro were imprisoned in Guam and the vacant island became inhabited by seafaring Carolinians. Upon the return of many of the Chamorro, the island became inhabited, as it is today, by people of Chamorro and Carolinian descent. I’m sure this oversimplification will upset some folks, but the quick historical synopsis is meant to highlight the various historical influences that make Saipan an interesting place.
Today, Saipan is predominately a tourist destination with visitors from Japan, Korea, Russia and China making up the vast majority of guests. They come for the tropical weather, nice beaches, water sports, golf, historical sites (mostly from World War II), and good food. It’s hard to put my finger on it, but in some ways, the island is very American (which makes sense, since it is) and in other ways, it is very, very foreign; I think this is part of its appeal. I chalk this up to its interesting history, sense of culture and language (while English is the official language, so too are Chamorro and Carolinian), and proximity to Asia. And also to the occasional non-US specification construction vehicle and the look of many of the commercial buildings.
Getting to Saipan from Asia is relatively easy, with numerous airlines servicing the island from different countries in North and East Asia. Getting to Saipan from Guam is theoretically easy, but the sole airline servicing the route charges far too much for the 45-minute flight, and offers less than reliable service to boot (insert sad face here).
If you manage to get there, though, you’ll find a number of very nice hotels, including the Hyatt Regency Saipan (the photo above was taken from my room), the Aqua Resort Club and Pacific Islands Club, to name a few of my favorites. Renting a car or moped is an excellent way to get around and discover what the island has to offer, but there are taxis and tour agencies that can help with transportation as well. And there are lots of good restaurants and activities to ensure you’re full and entertained. Check out the Marianas Visitors Bureau and Explore Saipan for more specifics.
I enjoy the natural beauty of Saipan (particularly when the flame trees are flowering), good food, Japanese historical sites, and friendly people. For scuba divers, I recommend the very interesting Grotto (although it is not a place I would recommend for snorkeling). My partners love to golf at Saipan’s several courses. And at the end of the day, we all enjoy a cold beer at Wild Bill’s (Beach Road, Garapan), Oleai Beach Bar (Beach Road, San Jose), or anyone of many other excellent watering holes.
So, while the fact that Saipan is part of the United States may come as a surprise, I submit that it should come as a pleasant one.
(The photograph, such that it is, was taken by me. All rights reserved.)
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