A celebration of the gods and goddesses of Hawaii will be threaded throughout the 49th annual Lūʻau & Hōʻike at Linfield University from Saturday, April 30.
Every year, Linfield’s Hui o Lōkahi (formerly Hawai’i Club) shares the culture of the Polynesian islands through food, dance and more. Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. performances are available online at www.linfieldtickets.com. Tickets are $25 for general admission and $20 for students with ID, seniors and children 3-12 who need their own seat. Proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test (taken within 72 hours prior to the event) are required for entry.
“It has been so long since we had a regular Lūʻau and many of our underclassmen have never seen what a true Linfield Lūʻau is like. This year it truly feels like a full-circle moment,” said Puna Padayhag-Himalaya, a student co-chair of the event. “My hope for this year’s Lūʻau is for everyone to see the amazing community we have here at Linfield that celebrates the Polynesian culture. My larger hope is that it will inspire our underclassmen to get involved in the following years.”
The day of the event, a “country store” will be open from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Ad Rutschman Field House with goods such as macadamia nuts, jams, leis and scrunchies. No tickets are required to visit the country store. Proceeds help cover the cost of the event. A beer and wine garden and photo area will also be available. Bobalastic and two Kamaʻāina food trucks will be on site.
Linfield students will perform dances from the Hawaiian Islands as well as Aotearoa (New Zealand) and Tahiti beginning at 7:30 p.m. in Ted Wilson Gym. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
The annual luau is organized by members of the Hui o Lōkahi, Hawaiian and non-Hawaiian alike, with students involved in all aspects of the production including choreography. The 2022 theme is “Na Hoa Ali’i o Hawai’i: Gods and Goddesses of Hawai’i.”
New dances are created each year for the Lu’au and student performers spend an increasing number of hours per week in rehearsals that start each February. By the week of the performance, it’s not uncommon for a dancer to be spending five hours each evening perfecting their techniques.
“Lūʻau & Hōʻike is not an easy commitment for either performers or the organizers, so we appreciate the amount of time and effort our dances put in on top of academics and other extra-curricular activities,” said Padayhag-Himalaya. “It just goes to show that none of this would be possible without the dedication and commitment of the people around us.
Many parents of Linfield students help with the event by buying Hawaiian fabric, sewing costumes and collecting donations from Hawaiian companies and the Linfield community. They also gather foliage and leis and coordinate shipments from Hawaii to McMinnville.
“Each Lūʻau season brings new friends and new connections through the sharing of our culture. It honestly is such a beautiful thing. I feel it translates well when we go on stage. In these past few months, we have spent hours together dancing our hearts out and we hope that our passion is reflected in our performance,” Padayhag-Himalaya said.
Those interested in volunteering at the event can sign up online. For more information, visit inside.linfield.edu/activities/luau.html or contact the club at hawaiileadership@linfield.edu. Follow @linfield.huiolokahi on Instagram for more updates.
