Tinian — The 22nd Annual Tinian Hot Pepper Festival brought two nights of food, music, dancing, and competition to the island of Tinian on February 13 and 14, drawing visitors from across the Marianas and beyond for what has become one of the region’s most beloved community celebrations.
Organized by the Marianas Visitors Authority in cooperation with the Tinian Mayor’s Office, the festival, known locally as “Pika Fest” for the Chamorro word for spicy, pays tribute to the donni’ sali, the island’s small but fiery native hot pepper.
Entertainment ran deep into the early morning hours on both nights, with cultural dance groups representing the archipelago’s diverse population of more than 20 ethnicities. Bands from Saipan and Guam competed for stage time at the popular event.
Saturday morning opened with the Pika Run 5K Fun Run, where Martin Buenao crossed the finish line first in the men’s division with a time of 21:24, followed closely by Anthony Talvera (21:43) and Edmar Tirona (21:45). In the women’s division, Elvira Furnari took the top spot at 30:15, with Cabrielle Glareg (34:46) and Jacquelyn Pereira (35:07) rounding out the podium. The race was executed by cadets of the Tinian High School JROTC Stallion Battalion under the direction of Battalion Commander Geremy Santos.
“I think this festival is one of a kind,” Santos said. “The people are the best part of coming to Tinian. That welcoming attitude, embracing anyone who comes here no matter who they are. That’s really the special part of Tinian, to me.”
Buenao carried his competitive streak into the J.C. Cafe Pika Burger Eating Contest, finishing second behind winner Raymond Allen, with Gerardo Segooria in third. The donni’ sali chopping contest, a race through 100 of the searing peppers, went to Joseph Ashmere, followed by Jamiee San Nicolas Omengkar and Thomas Erickson.
The Estufao Cooking Contest, a spicy stew competition, awarded cash prizes to all three finalists, with Carol Manglona taking first place, followed by Rene Dungad and Sylvia Biz. The vendor floor also had its own winner, with Chili Rock earning best booth honors ahead of Barbarias and Tropic 1.
The festival’s younger attendees got their moment in the spotlight with the Umang Race, a hermit crab competition won by Brad Lee Alambra, followed by Akina Patio and Itiri Yap.
Evening festivities brought out the dancers, with “Arseni and Dolores” winning the Bailan Batsu Contest ahead of “Mina and Martin,” and “Jojo and Edna” topping the Chacha Contest over “Arsneski and Dolores” and “Jane and Bong.”
For first-time visitor Caroline Ballet of Texas, the island left a lasting impression.
“I didn’t know Tinian existed. It’s been really nice,” she said. “If you’re looking for a place that’s just really laid back and life is at a slower pace, go out to beaches, a clear ocean, fishing. It’s just fun. And there’s a lot of history here.”
Hotel rooms sold out for the weekend, with many festivalgoers opting to camp on nearby white sand beaches. STAR Marianas extended flight times to accommodate visitors, and charter flights were available through the evening. The festival was sponsored by DOCOMO Pacific, Atkins Kroll Saipan, Coca-Cola Beverage Co., and NMI News Service, with additional support from the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs.
The Tinian Hot Pepper Festival is held annually on President’s Day weekend.
