Last year, I flew out from Guam to attend the very first Chamorro Day Festival in Tacoma, Washington.
To be honest, I wasn't quite sure what to expect.
I knew there would be Chamorros. I knew there would be food, music, and culture. But I wasn't prepared for just how much love I was about to feel.
The moment I stepped onto the festival grounds, it felt like I was transported right back to the Marianas.
I heard the language.
I heard the laughter.
I saw sinahis, spondylus jewelry, island flags, and families reconnecting with people they hadn't seen in years.
For one day, Tacoma felt like a little piece of Guam, Saipan, Tinian, and Rota all rolled into one.
And that's exactly what Chamorro Day is all about.
Hosted by Guma' Imahe, Chamorro Day was created to bring people together through our traditions, food, music, dance, language, storytelling, and cultural practices. Their mission is simple but powerful: preserve our culture, celebrate our heritage, and make sure the next generation understands where they come from. The festival creates a place where elders, youth, and families can come together and share the values, stories, and traditions that make us Chamorro.
As someone who spends a lot of time researching and incorporating Chamorro history into my knives, that mission hits close to home.
Whether it's ancient pottery designs from Achugao, old artwork from the Marianas, or stories passed down from generation to generation, I believe culture only survives when we continue to share it.
That's why I love what Guma' Imahe is doing.
And that's why I'm excited to be coming back.
This year's Chamorro Day Festival takes place on June 27, 2026, in Tacoma and will feature traditional dances, island music, local food, cultural activities, crafts, vendors, workshops, a car show, and performances throughout the day. The festival is designed to immerse people in Chamorro culture through food, music, dance, art, and community experiences.
If you're from the Marianas and you're feeling a little ma'ålang for home, this is one of those events that fills your cup.
You'll hear songs that remind you of family parties back home.
You'll smell food that instantly takes you back to your nana's kitchen.
You'll see kids learning traditions that our ancestors worked hard to preserve.
And for a few hours, you'll remember that no matter where you live, the Marianas is always a part of you.
The thing that stood out to me most last year was the inafa'maolek spirit.
The PNW community carries it well.
Very well.
The hospitality, the respect, the support, the willingness to help each other—it was alive everywhere I looked.
It made me proud to be Chamorro.
It made me proud to be from the Marianas.
And it made me excited to come back.
This year I'll be bringing fresh new blades, new merchandise, and a few surprises with me. But more than that, I'm looking forward to reconnecting with old friends, meeting new people, and celebrating the culture that connects all of us.
So if you're in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, California, or anywhere nearby, make the trip.
Come eat.
Come dance.
Come sing.
Come reconnect.
Come experience what it feels like to be home again.
I'll see you in Tacoma.
Stay SHINARP.
si Frangg
Blades By Crank