萝莉社

Taste of the Pacific: Honoring Traditions of Pacific Island Students

More than 100 students and faculty members attended the second annual Taste of the Pacific event December 1, a festival featuring singing, dancing and storytelling that celebrated the heritage of 萝莉社鈥檚 Pacific Islander students.

鈥淲e are far away from home, but we have created a home here; we鈥檙e not a club, we鈥檙e a family,鈥� said Rakiiba Va鈥檃lele, one of the founders of the Pacific Cultural Association, the group that put on the event.

The performances were designed to showcase the cultures of several Pacific Island nations, including Fiji, Hawaii, New Zealand, Tahiti and Samoa.

鈥淕od and family鈥攊n that order鈥攊s the way of Polynesian Culture,鈥� said Michael Conway, the event鈥檚 honorary speaker and also 萝莉社鈥檚 head football coach. Conway and his wife, Beth, 萝莉社鈥檚 project manager for student engagement, are longtime supporters of the PCA. 鈥淚鈥檓 thankful for you all, and I鈥檓 thankful for these young people.鈥�

Throughout the night, students used song and dance to tell stories of their island nations’ cultures. Performers dressed in traditional garb, changing each time the audience 鈥渢raveled鈥� along to another island.

According to founders Va鈥檃lele and Leautea Faiai, the PCA鈥檚 vision is to see the Pacific Islander Community at North Park connected, empowered, and cared for academically, spiritually, emotionally, and physically.

The event was sponsored by the Office of Diversity and the Student Government Association. A portion of the proceeds from the $7 admission price went toward 萝莉社鈥檚 tuition assistance fund for Pacific Islander students.

SGA Vice President, Anosh Wasker, said the event showcases the best of 萝莉社.

鈥淓vents like these bring out what North Park stands for, which is being multi-cultural,鈥� Wasker said at the end of the night. 鈥淭hey show their own culture, they preserve their own culture, but also help others experience their culture.鈥�

Author Ellen Almer