NORTHERN MARIANAS – The second Marianas Ukulele Festival held last Saturday featured performers from Japan, Korea, Ireland, Hawai‘i as well as local residents.

The festival also paid tribute to the late ‘Taulamwaar’ Dave Kapileo Peter and Ana Maria Pialur Limes for their contributions to the local performing arts scene and culture.

Peter was recognized for his loyalty, vision, untiring work and passion for song writing.

His “immeasurable musical talents rekindled an interest in our indigenous music among musicians throughout the NMI and led to the establishment of the annual ukulele festival”, the Marianas Variety newspaper reports.

Limes was recognised for her “loyalty and contribution to the indigenous performing arts, and as one of the first members of the Marianas Ukulele Festival Association.”

According to Gordon Marciano, KKMP radio host, and one of the Marianas Ukulele Festival organisers, the event was the originally the idea of Peter, who is also credited with the Carolinian verses of the CNMI national anthem.

The families of both artists thanked the community and the organisers of the festival for the tribute.

“We the family of late ‘Taulumwaar’ David Peter and our sister Ana Limes would like to thank the entire community, and the board of the ukulele festival, for realising our father’s dream of actually having a ukulele festival that is not only the first in Micronesia, but the first in the Pacific for our region,” said Viola Alepuyo, the oldest daughter of Peter.

“Even though our father is not with us, we love the fact that he does not just live in our hearts, but he lives in the hearts of the community, and he is remembered every time the CNMI national anthem is sung.”

Larry Lee, Marianas Ukulele Festival Association chair, said they have a lot of support from the community, adding that they had a hundred performers for the event.

“We have performers from age eight all the way to 70.”

The event featured food as well as arts and crafts booths.

Lee said ukulele playing is becoming more popular.

“More people are starting to learn ukulele and coming out to perform –and the growing interest in the whole community is there,” he said.

“One thing you will notice by watching the different performers is that there’s a lot of different styles of playing the ukulele, and you know you can use the ukulele to play all kinds of music.”

The ukulele is an island instrument, Lee said.

“All throughout the Pacific, all the islands are into ukulele. It’s easier to play than the guitar, and that’s what makes it popular, I think.”

Lee said they expect a bigger festival next year.

- Marianas Variety