Sharing Cultural Performances with Las Vegas Community

Aloha, Kumu Kawahine here again, sharing an update on my hula journey with the halau. It is now June 2023, and a lot has happened since the last entry. We have had several performances in Las Vegas. It has been wonderful to collaborate and share our cultures with the community as the Hawaiian section, along with the Tahitian and Samoan sections, under the Polynesian Culture School known as Pupu Ori Te Nati (POTN). However, the performances were quite challenging due to the intense heat at each event.

During the month of April, we had the opportunity to perform at the 20th Annual Spring Pure Aloha Festival. This highly anticipated event spans of four days and serves as a vibrant celebration of Hawaiian and Pacific Islander culture, music, and cuisine. As part of POTN, we delivered an hour-long group performance on both Friday and Saturday of that weekend. The positive feedback we received from the community was truly heartening. The journey leading up to this performance was filled with immense dedication and hard work, including countless hours of planning, rigorous practice sessions, and the creation of captivating costumes, among various other tasks. The entire team at POTN poured their hearts into ensuring the success of this performance, and it was immensely gratifying to see our efforts come to pass.

The following month of May, we received invitations to perform at three events. The first event took place at the 1st Annual Flavors of Aloha in Downtown Summerlin. This festival was dedicated to showcasing unique culinary flavors from the islands, accompanied by Las Vegas entertainment, also known as the 9th island. The event was free and attracted a large crowd, with attendees from Las Vegas and other areas who came to enjoy the festival free of charge. POTN delivered an hour-long show at this event, which proved to be the most challenging due to the scorching weather. There was no shade available to shield us from the intense sun. The stage was small and hot, and the turf grass area, where most of our dancers performed, was even hotter. Despite these conditions, the performance was nothing short of marvelous. I commend every member of our team, from the drummers to the dancers and instructors, for their amazing efforts. They should be immensely proud of their outstanding performance under such adverse circumstances.

At the second performance in May, we had the pleasure of participating in the 3rd Annual May Day - Lei Day event in Las Vegas. This event serves as a wonderful opportunity to bring the vibrant traditions and celebrations of May Day from Hawaii to the local community. Although our performance at this event was relatively shorter compared to the previous two events, we were still able to showcase the richness of our cultural heritage at POTN. May Day in Hawaii has always been a cherished celebration that I look forward to each year, and being able to be part of the festivities this year was truly an honor. Despite the smaller scale of the performance, it was by no means lacking in success. We were thrilled to have the chance to share our culture with everyone in attendance, and their enthusiastic response only further reinforced the importance of these cultural exchanges.

The final performance of the month took place on the front lawn of the Raiders Football Team Headquarters. We were honored to be invited to perform at a private Pacific Island celebration held at this prestigious venue. The anticipation among everyone affiliated with POTN who attended that day was very positive. As we entered the headquarters, we were greeted by a visually stunning sight: the lobby adorned with various displays showcasing Raider Football Team memorabilia, including an impressive full-scale model of the new Allegiant Stadium. While we were disappointed that there were no professional football players in attendance and encountered a slight lack of the ALOHA spirit from certain employees. Nevertheless, we remained steadfast in upholding our own spirit of ALOHA and embraced the opportunity to perform in such a remarkable location. Thankfully, our performance was met with enthusiasm and appreciation from the audience. The positive feedback we received confirmed that our efforts were indeed appreciated, and we could proudly declare it yet another successful performance.

Overall, these events served as an exceptional platform to showcase the achievements and talents of our school. They filled us with a deep sense of cultural pride, and we proudly declare their resounding successes in our mission to share our knowledge and talent. Not only were we able to captivate and engage those in attendance, but the footage of our performances that was shared online reached an even larger community. In today's technologically advanced world, capturing and sharing footage has become more accessible than ever before. This has enabled us to disseminate information and communicate more swiftly. The combination of live performances and online sharing has had a tremendous impact on supporting and promoting POTN. We have witnessed a significant increase in student enrollment, as more individuals have been inspired to join our vibrant community. The power of these shared experiences has truly propelled our school forward.

POTN Founders, Julie & Kaniala with their ohana

Ultimately, I cannot express enough gratitude for the invaluable cultural knowledge bestowed upon me by my teachers, mentors, elders, and formal education. The time they dedicated to entrusting me with such a wealth of cultural information is deeply appreciated, and I will forever be grateful to them all. Additionally, I must extend a heartfelt appreciation to the remarkable founders of POTN, Julie and Kaniala Charles. Their unwavering support in Las Vegas has been instrumental in my ability to teach and share my culture once again. It was through their persistent encouragement, or rather, their gentle but determined pushes, that I joined their cultural school as the Kumu Hula of the Hawaiian section. Julie's diligent efforts in connecting and promoting the school have resulted in numerous opportunities for us to share our rich heritage with the community. The unwavering support and encouragement I receive from her and others involved in the school are truly priceless. I am immensely grateful to have individuals like Julie and Kaniala, as family and companions on this fulfilling path.

Lastly, teaching has been an integral part of my life, spanning several decades, and it is a fundamental aspect of who I am. I firmly believe that imparting our cultural knowledge to the next generation is paramount in preserving and perpetuating our heritage. I am grateful to have the ongoing opportunity to share this knowledge with my students and the wider community here in Las Vegas. Their receptiveness and enthusiasm fuel my passion, and I am truly blessed to be a part of this cultural journey.

In conclusion, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to you, the readers, for joining me on this captivating journey with my halau through this blog entry. Your presence and interest in my experiences mean a great deal to me, and I sincerely appreciate the time you have taken to visit and engage with my updates. Rest assured, I will continue to keep you informed and involved as I share the ongoing chapters of this remarkable journey. Your support and encouragement are invaluable, and I am grateful to have you as companions on this fulfilling path. Me ke aloha piha.