Months of rehearsals and planning led to the 49th Annual Lu’au & Ho’ike Saturday, April 30. For Puna Padayhag-Himalaya, co-chair of the event presented by the Hui O Lōkahi Club, it was all worth it.
“I think for every one of our dancers, last night held a special place in their hearts. Just being back in the gym … there is something about the stage, lighting and decorations that really creates this unique ambiance that really sets the tone,” Padayhag-Himalaya said. “In the end, it was truly a special moment as a senior and closing off with one last performance on the center stage.”
Students hailing from Polynesian cultures invite students from all backgrounds to participate in organizing the event and performing traditional dances. Nearly 1,000 people attended the event this year.
New dances are created each year, and student performers began rehearsals in early February. This year’s event centered around celebration of the gods and goddesses of Hawaii and included influences from Hawaii, Aotearoa (New Zealand) and Tahiti.
“We have up to 12 different dances available for students to take part in. Depending on how many dances you sign up for, rehearsals can be anywhere from two hours a week to 20-25 hours for a single person,” Padayhag-Himalaya said. “Lū’au & Hōʻike is not an easy commitment, so we appreciate the amount of time and effort our dancers put in on top of academics and other extracurricular activities.” [envira-gallery id=”8313″]
A country store, beer and wine garden, senior wall, photo area and food trucks serving traditional island fare preceded the event.
Many parents of Linfield students help with the event, buying Hawaiian fabric, sewing costumes and collecting donations from Hawaiian companies and the Linfield community. They also gather foliage and leis and coordinate shipments to McMinnville.
“When I think about the legacy of the lūʻau and of our club, it always comes back to the community it generates and being one big ʻohana.’ Although the performance aspect is great, the most valuable part of the Lūʻau & Hōʻike experience is meeting new people and forming these connections,” Padayhag-Himalaya said. ” I hope for the 50th year, we can see widespread participation that would highlight that sense of belonging and home that Lūʻau & Hō’ike gave to us.”
More information on the Hui O Lōkahi Club can be found at the club website or follow them on Instagram. Donations to fuel next year’s 50th annual event can be made online.
