Photo by Elaine Ramos/The Siskiyou
Wahine Auana perform "Miss You My Hawaii" during the 12th Annual Luau on Saturday, April 26.

Crowds were lined all the way around the corner of McNeal Pavilion Saturday night, waiting in anticipation to enjoy an island-inspired meal and sublime entertainment at the Ho’opa’a Hawaii Club’s 12th Annual Luau.

The theme for the evening was "Wahi Kupaianaha," meaning "Home is a Special Place." The night’s theme reflected the club’s goal, which is to create a "home away from home" atmosphere to all of its members who are from the islands, and also to those of other cultural backgrounds.

According to Dance Coordinator Chanel Sniffen, the club started planning the luau in January. She has helped organize the past three luaus as a dance coordinator and said the events usually tend to sell out of tickets, which it did this year. Sniffen commented on the particular success of the night’s event and the pleasant atmosphere.

"So far, so good," she said, smiling.

First-year club president Mary Akutagawa oversaw most aspects of the event, including renting out the gym, ordering the food and advertising around campus.

"I can’t pinpoint just one challenge of the planning," Akutagawa said. "But it was difficult handling the magnitude of the event and balancing that with school and other things."

Akutagawa also mentioned how much teamwork and support she received from her fellow club members during the planning stages.

"Traditionally, the luau is all about the gathering of friends and family, and that’s what we really wanted to achieve tonight," she said.

The night began with a number of Hawaiian songs including "Nani Ko’olau," which is about the rain and mist on the island, and "I Miss You My Hawaii," which is about friends and family who leave the island to expand their horizons and how they will miss their loved ones back home no matter how far away they travel. The music was performed by five club members: two on guitar and three providing soothing, melodic vocals.

Business management major Brian Jacob heard about the luau in the Stevenson Union, where the club was selling tickets last week, and decided to attend.

"I thought it would be fun, and I knew there would be really good music," Jacob said. "And food," he added.

Club member Parker Paredes prefaced the big meal by asking the crowd to bow their heads while he said a traditional luau prayer to God, asking that he bless the food, nourish the bodies that eat it and protect drivers traveling home later that evening.

Freshman art major Colleen McCoy heard about the event from her friends living in the dorms on campus. Her favorite dish of the evening was the vegetarian curry, made of potatoes, carrots, celery and onions. Other dishes served included Kalua pig, Lomi Lomi salmon, Shoyu chicken and Haupia, a sweet coconut dessert.

The meal was followed by a brief intermission, and guests freely milled around enjoying the background music and cheerful banter of surrounding friends and family members.

After most of the food had been eaten, members of the Hawaii Club dance team entertained the crowd with Hula, Samoan, Tongan and Haka dancing in traditional garb. The Haka dance was historically carried out to invoke the god of war and discourage enemies. Today, it is a national expression of the New Zealand and Maori culture.

The evening closed with thanks from Akutagawa and the anthem "Hawaii Aloha" that was sung in unison by all guests and club members in English and Hawaiian. The song is traditional to native Hawaiian people.

Anyone is welcome to join the Ho’opa’a Hawaii Club. Please call 552-8530 for more information about joining or upcoming events.