Samoan Cultural Pride Showcased at the Polynesian Cultural Center
Laie, Hawaii – May 9, 2015 – Today was an opportunity for Hawaii’s Polynesian students to demonstrate their knowledge, skill and pride in the Samoan culture and they came through as champions at the High School Samoan Cultural Arts Festival.
Hosted by the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) as part of the We Are Samoa Festival, the event brought together hundreds of teens from five Hawaii high school clubs to perpetuate the Samoan culture and promote goodwill among their peers.
Taking part were students representing Kahuku High School, Kapolei High School, Radford High School, Waipahu High School, and the ILH Polynesian Club, which comprises several Oahu private schools. Attending were thousands of family members, friends and supporters. In addition, people around the world followed the Festival live online.
Held in the PCC’s 2,700-seat Pacific Theater, the students took part in a series of Samoan practices and life skills beginning with traditional oratory in the native Samoan tongue, which is rarely used by young people. The students then engaged in a series of traditional Samoan activities, including coconut husking, basket weaving, banana peeling, and fire making.
The Festival concluded with each school club performing Samoan songs and dances and showcasing their understanding of the traditional attire, poise, movements, and cultural interpretation involved in the presentation.
The students practiced for months after school and on weekends to prepare for today’s Festival, helping to ingrain in them a stronger understanding about the roots of the Samoan people. Cultural experts observing the Festival provided the students with feedback and encouragement to help inspire them to continue practicing and perpetuating the Samoan culture.
The We Are Samoa Festival, May 7-9, is Hawaii’s largest Samoan cultural festival and a pre-eminent showcase of Samoa’s traditions. A featured attraction of the festival is the exhilarating World Fireknife Championships.
The 2015 World Fireknife Champion in the Senior Division will be crowned tonight (May 9).
For more information, please visit www.worldfireknife.com.
The PCC is streaming the World Fireknife Championships live online at https://new.livestream.com/polynesia-live-event.
For more information or to make reservations, visit www.polynesia.com or call (800) 367-7060. In Hawaii, call 293-3333.