Participants in the We Are Samoa Fealofani Day on May 6 said the festival was an opportunity for them to show their pride in their Samoan heritage. The festival, held at the Polynesian Cultural Center, hosted high school students representing Samoan clubs from Kahuku, Farrington, Radford, Kapolei and the Interscholastic League of Honolulu Poly Club. The students celebrated their culture through song, dance and cultural activities such as basket weaving, banana peeling and fire making. The high schools were able to raise money for their clubs, with Radford raising the most at $3,976.
Selelimalelei Lepule Esau from Lufilufi, Samoa, whose daughter represented ILH and won the banana peeler competition, voiced his appreciation for the PCC’s presidency and all who made the event possible, saying, “This is one of the most important events of the year…
"I strongly believe that it’s a very great idea to always involve the rising generation in our everyday norms even though they were raised out of our home, giving them a sense of the way we as parents were raised in the times of old,” said Esau.
The seats were filled with family, friends, students, their teachers and their officers who attended to support those who performed. Following a Samoan greeting speech, the flags of the United States, Samoa, and American Samoa flags were raised to represent unity between the countries. Participants said they showed their excitement through cheers, songs and cultural dances.
“This is my first year participating in this event and I love it very much,” said Taea Moeai, a freshman in the ILH Poly Club from Laie. She continued, “My mother was actually born in Apia, Samoa and I found it very important being here today knowing that we were not raised in Samoa to do chores like my mom. In fact, I have learned so much from the activities I have actually seen today.”
ILH students in one of their performances. Photo by: Enkhtuvshin Chimee
Credits:
Enkhtuvshin Chimee