Pacific Index

Pacific Prepares For 65th Annual Lu’au and Ho’ike Celebration

By: Gabe Kalama

   The sounds of ukulele and ipu drums, the rhythm of hula, and the vibrant colors of traditional Polynesian attire are returning for Pacific’s 65th annual Lū‘au and Hō‘ike on April 11. An event that celebrates culture, community and hard work. Each year students, families, faculty and staff gather to enjoy performances highlighting Hawaiian, Tongan, Samoan, Japanese, Filipino, and Tahitian. This year is promising to bring new things to the stage. 

   This year, attendees and families can look forward to something new: a Fijian dance added to the program for the first time. “This year we’ve added a Fijian dance. Feleti Martinez-Afemui, is the instructor also with Tongan and this is his senior year so he wanted to go out with a bang so he added the Fijian number. So we have a whole new culture to share,” said Aunty Jana, the advisor of Nā Haumāna o Hawai‘i. The addition brings more diversity and strengthens the effort to continually expand the cultural representation in the event. 

   For those who are unfamiliar, the preparation for Lū‘au and Hō‘ike is no small feat. Aunty Jana described the process involving students, instructors, committee chairs, campus staff, and families of students. “The process as you know is very complicated… So while Aunty Carolyn Quindica (our state coordinator) works closely with the parent chairs and numerous other logistics, I support and guide the L&H board, student chairs, committees and instructors… This year I think the process is going very smoothly… Lū‘au and Hō‘ike goals are sharing the culture, building leadership skills, social networking skills, making new memories, and having fun. But for me, the greatest is the skills that you all build in being in charge or participating. How do you balance school? How do you make time to practice?” Her comments reflected that beyond the show, the event teaches students leadership, time management, and organizational skills.

   When it comes to performances, Aunty Jana said she couldn’t pick a favorite. “I can’t be biased! I think all of them. Especially when I go to practices the first week of the semester, and I see how much growth has happened… Even on that very first night of practices during the week of the event, by Thursday night I’m seeing the full progression. Everyone has shown how much they’ve learned… Saturday night, I’m glad that they just all have fun. It’s just very rewarding and heartwarming to see them all on stage.” Her excitement captures the dedication of the performers and the joy they bring to the audience.

   However, beyond the entertainment, Lū’au and Hō‘ike aims to educate attendees about the cultures we feature in our Hō‘ike while also fostering meaningful connections among students. The cultures and histories of the Pacific Islands, Japan, and the Philippines are often not taught outside of Hawai‘i, so a major goal of the event is to educate and engage audiences through dances and storytelling, leaving them with a sense of having learned or experienced something new. “I think that again it’s the skills. They won’t see the skills, they’ll see everybody dancing and listen to the content that’s being shared through the emcees… Also, how close they are… you understand that the members of our club are not all from Hawai‘i but yet they’ve learned the cultures and they’ve made friends and made the best memories,” Aunty Jana said. The performances are more than just dances, they have historical contexts, tell stories, and offer audiences a deeper understanding of tradition with each performance. 

   The event also builds a strong community among those on campus as it takes everyone to put it together. “Especially with the leaders they have to work together… Making new friends is the best part of it all. Especially with the freshmen… they look and they see oh next year I want to be on a committee or chair a committee… Because they know it’s fun. Of course I try to instill in them that school is important as well, and Lū‘au is this big and school is even bigger as it helps you reach YOUR own goals after college.  But I want you to be involved and I want you to have fun,” Aunty Jana explained. From freshman just discovering what the event is, to upperclassman taking charge, the event provides countless opportunities to make new friends and build teamwork skills which will be valuable for their futures.