The windows in JEB 104 beamed brightly the evening of April 12, shedding a rainbow of colors on the cool night exterior for An Evening on the Pacific Islands, hosted by the Office of Multicultural Affairs.
Passersby may have turned a cheek as notes of obscure Polynesian music escaped the cracked doors.
Lexi Forbes, accompanied by her dog Lucy, drove from the Tri-Cities to support her brother who helped with the event.
“It”s my early birthday present,” she said.
Her brother, Eric Skipper, is an adviser at Washington State University. His significant other, Sharon Simpson, is a retired adviser from the University of Idaho whose islander heritage has made her known as “auntie” within the Hawaii Club community.
“My advisees ended up being more and more from Hawaii Club, and then when U of I said “Hey, let”s do something for Pacific Islander Heritage Month” I was like, “Great, I can get my dancers for you,”” she said.
Simpson explained that as she began to meet more students who knew her husband, she merged the Hawaii Clubs of UI and WSU.
“So really we”re just one giant family,” she said. “I”m not their academic adviser or anything, I”m their mom or their “auntie” of Hawaii club.”
She said after she semi-retired from UI in 2013, students approached her and asked that she continue to mentor them from outside school.
“It”s a non-official staff position,” she said jokingly as the background music ceased.
Taase Taofi, sophomore and Co-Director of Hui Hau”oli O” Hawai”i (WSU”s Hawaii Club) announced that the first performances would begin.
After an explanation of the symbolism behind the dance, which told the story of a mermaid, female students in traditional dress climbed to the stage.
In practiced harmony, the group moved to the traditional music while each crowd member watched the recreation of the Hawaiian fable.
After the first two performances, Taofi took brightly to the microphone to announce through a grin that members from the audience would be picked to learn a dance up on stage.
“Don”t be nervous,” Taofi said. “It”ll be fun.”
Students who took the stage learned two performances – “Hukilau,” and “Pearly Shells” – each with its own story and symbolism that was explained to the audience as the mainlanders learned the moves to the dance.
After several unique performances of both Tahitian and Hawaiian traditional dance, the audience was informed there was one more dance that involved every performer.
The dancers reunited side by side as Taofi explained the true meaning of “Aloha,” the Hawaiian greeting for both “Hello” and “Goodbye.”
“It means something more than just a greeting in Hawaii,” she said.
Performers then proceeded to dance to a song that explained that each letter in “Aloha” stands for virtues and beliefs of the Hawaiian culture.
This deeper meaning is what has caused Reina Lynn Tolentino, a WSU sophomore from the island of Oahu, to continue dancing Hula.
“When I first came to WSU, I was looking at different clubs because (Washington) is out of my area, and it was my first time coming to the mainland,” she said. “I just wanted to have a little piece of home with me.”
In a similar fashion, Pauline Piso, a WSU freshman from Maui, wanted a way to carry on a tradition, even thousands of miles away from home.
“I first started dancing Hula and Tahitian when I was in second grade,” she said. “Coming to WSU and joining Hawaii Club is like a family – it”s like a home away from home.”
Although Piso said she wanted something to remind her of home, she also emphasized that Hula was a tradition that was important to learn and continue.
Joshua Ragasa a WSU sophomore from Oahu, didn”t start so young, but felt the same passion about continuing to practice Hawaiian traditions.
“I”d never really danced Hula before, and I thought I should learn how, because it started in Hawaii – where I”m from,” he said. “It”s important to learn about Hawaiian culture, because it”s so different than any American culture.”
Will Meyer can be reached at [email protected]