Asian Pacific Islanders Club hosts 29th annual Luau

On April 18 at 5 p.m. in the University Center South Ballroom, Western’s own Asian Pacific Islander Club (ASIC) hosted its 29th annual luau, sponsored by Secret Stash Pizza, Sherpa Café, Jermaine’s and Mochas. For as low as $10, students were welcome to get a taste of Hawaiian food and culture and partake in raffles, games and dances. This event had about 55 attendees.

The room was decorated with coconuts, palm leaves, Hawaiian flowers, colored lighting, torches, colorful table covers, decorative seaweed, pineapples, lobsters and more, and guests were offered a free lei, a traditional flower necklace. Additionally, the Polynesian Dance and Chant Club (PDCC) dressed in traditional Hawaiian outfits to celebrate the luau.

At 5:45 p.m., all of the guests were welcomed to the luau and told some facts about Hawaii itself before dinner was served five minutes later. Dinner consisted of salad, rice, macaroni salad, chicken with long rice and pork—and it was a zero-waste event.

At 6:20 p.m., the PDCC had their first three dances, “Nani Kilauea,” “Male Kahiko” and “Kaua’i A’ina Uluwehi.” Afterward, there was a short game of limbo in which about 15 people were invited to compete. Once a winner was determined, two more dances were performed, “Tewe Tewe” and “E O Mai.” At 7 p.m. when all those dances were done, guests were invited to do some hula dancing. Dessert was served after the dance and the event was officially over by 7:40 p.m.

“Attendance wasn’t as high as we were hoping but considering there were six major events happening on the same day, it was a good turn out! My favorite part was all the dancing,” said Sally Romero, the Director of Cultural Affairs at Western.

Story by Western freshman Jamie Rivera.