Hawaii says ‘aloha’ from this weekend’s Pasifika Festival

Hawaii says ‘aloha’ from this weekend’s Pasifika Festival

13 March 2015

The US Embassy are bringing the sights of hula dances and the sounds of ukuleles from Hawaii to the Pasifika Festival this weekend at Hayman Park in Auckland.

It is only the second time in the festival’s 23 year history that the Hawaii village will be showcased. Hula group ‘Halau Hula O Kalaulani O Pu’uanahulu’ and renowned Hawaiian musician Grayden Ha’i Kelly, are among 40 dancers and musicians flying over from Hawaii especially to perform at the Festival.

US Ambassador Mark Gilbert, who will be attending the festival for the first time on Saturday, said the United States is a proud Pacific nation.

“More than 51 million Americans currently live in or along the shores of the Pacific, from our 50th state Hawaii, through Guam and American Samoa, to the great states of California, Oregon, Washington and Alaska,” he says.

“To paraphrase Secretary of State John Kerry, the ocean is the connective tissue that binds all us Pacific peoples together,” he says.

The Hawaii Village will showcase Hawaii’s favourite foods, arts and jewelry, and cultural practitioners will demonstrate how to make traditional Hawaiian headgear, tapa, and leis.

The US Embassy funded the first Hawaii village at last year’s 2014 festival which attracted over 80,000 visitors. This year, many of the performers have fundraised themselves to come to New Zealand to participate in the Pasifika Festival.

For more information and a stage programme visit the Hawaii Village 2015 Facebook page.

Further info:

• More than 1.5 million Americans are of Polynesian, Melanesian, or Micronesian descent, including many Tongans, Fijians, and about as many Samoans as live in Samoa itself.

• Musician Grayden Ha’i Kelly, who began performing at age six and has a career spanning over 30 years, will bring the distinct Hawaiian vibe when he sings and plays his ukulele. The ukulele has long been regarded as Hawaii’s national instrument, and literally translates to “jumping flea”.

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