Page 15 - IB June July 2024

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Traditional vessels and their crews welcomed Pacific ocean voyagers at the start of the festival. Photo: Samantha Magick

since the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893. protocol came together to bind the wounds caused by the
And the respect and honor accorded the hosts had another overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy. One that stays with me
effect – to remind Hawaiians, perhaps unintentionally, of is the hula performed for Pacific traditional leaders on the
their monarch King David Kalakaua’s vision of a Polynesian grounds of Iolani Palace, the former home of the Hawaiian
Confederacy linking the remaining independent island nations alii. Appropriately enough, the honors (this time from the
(at the time Hawaii, Samoa and Tonga). The Polynesian Hawaiians to the Pacific) was led appropriately enough by
Confederacy was a follow-on to an earlier Pacific-East Asia kumu hula, the hula teachers who have been at the forefront
Confederacy Kalakaua had proposed to the Japanese emperor. of the restoration of Hawaiian culture in the islands. In this
These separate universes came together early in the instance, it was Kumu Hula Sonny Ching of Halau Na Mamo
Festival when, at the ecumenical Sunday service held in the O Puuanahulu and Kumu Hula HulaKa’ilihiwa Vaughan-Darval
sports arena of the University of Hawaii, a group of American of Halau Hula Ka lehua Tuahine. The hula performed for the
Samoans, dressed in their Sunday whites, and in the pitch gathered chiefs was reserved for special occasions.
perfect harmony that Samoans do with such ease and joy, sang I’m not sure all of the Hawaiians who attended the Festival
Hawaii Aloha, a beloved hymn. In their magnificent voices, were aware at that macro level of the impact of the 10-day
which reached every corner of the large area, the Samoans celebration of Pacific culture. But I am sure the magnificent
sang in Hawaiian, “E Hawai’i e ku’u one hānau e, Ku’u home dancing and pride that was evident everywhere one looked
kulaīwi nei, ‘Oli nō au i nā pono lani ou, E Hawai’i, aloha ē.” affected those who attended the Festival. A friend of mine,
(O Hawai’i, o sands of my birth, My native home, I rejoice in a veteran videographer who is of Asian ancestry, told me of
the blessings of heaven, O Hawai’i, aloha). being brought to tears by the pride and dignity on display. And
As soon as it became evident the Samoans were honoring he was not the only one so moved.
their hosts, the arena erupted in cheers and the blowing of Metrics? Perhaps when we can assess tears of pride as a
conch shells. It was a life changing moment. metric will we be able to fully appreciate the impact the 13th
There were other moments when Pacific hospitality and Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture had on its host.

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