SAIPAN — Saipan Mayor Ramon “RB” Jose Blas Camacho presented a memorial plaque on Feb. 5 honoring the life and legacy of Lino Mettao Olopai, recognizing him as a key figure in the Micronesian Navigation Revival and a longtime steward of Refaluwasch language and oral history.
The plaque, addressed to Mayor Camacho, was presented “with deep gratitude and profound respect” to Olopai’s family and includes the line, “The stars belong to those who know their names.”
Under the heading “A Legacy of the Wayfinder,” the plaque says Olopai helped ensure the sacred art of wayfinding endured, describing him as a bridge between the Master Navigators of Satawal and the people of the Marianas during the navigation revival of the 1970s.
It also honors Olopai’s work preserving Refaluwasch language and oral histories, stating that he did not only record stories, but “breathed life into them,” so the wisdom of elders would remain a guide for future generations.
The message closes by calling Olopai’s contributions a “permanent horizon,” saying that while he has completed his final voyage, his “star path” remains as a beacon for those seeking a deeper understanding of identity and origin.
