Luau brings Hawaii to Houston Hall

With Hawaiian music playing in the background and a display of pineapples imported straight from the islands, College sophomore Nathan Chinen stepped onto Houston Hall auditorium's stage Saturday night and welcomed the group of approximately 200 students. The crowd yelled back "Aloha!" but Chinen was not satisfied. "That's not loud enough," he said, encouraging the crowd to give the Hawaiian greeting another try. "Aloha," they repeated more forcefully, kicking off the Hawaii Club's first-annual luau. The luau was meant to be "a way to educate the public about true Hawaiian culture, to change the general stereotypes about Hawaiians," according to Wharton junior Angela Kim, president of the Hawaii Club. A luau is the Hawaiian term for 'party.' Although it was originally planned as a 150-person event, everybody was seated within half an hour, and there was enough food for second servings. Hawaiian students from other schools, such as Tufts University, Harvard University, Smith College, Babson College and the University of Massachusetts, were also in attendance. Seventy-five percent of the proceeds went towards the Sea Life Park of Hawaii, an organization that provides refuge for the endangered Hawaiian monk seal. The Hawaii Club created an authentic atmosphere with hanging lights on strings, soft Hawaiian music in the background, authentic tea leaves hung upon the walls and stage, as well as half-pineapples directly from Hawaii stuffed with fruit. College sophomore Teresa Chan said the effects "made me see the blue waters, a little taste of the island." The dinner, which was described as both "interesting" and "excellent" by students in attendance, consisted entirely of Hawaiian foods. The Hawaiian club served a variety of traditional dishes, including kalua pig and turkey, lomi lomi salmon -- salmon with tomatoes, onions and salt -- chicken long rice, poi, which is made of mashed beets and sugar, and haupia -- coconut pudding. As the crowd finished up its dinner, the lights dimmed and the entertainment began. Eight female dancers dressed in red skirts and white shirts danced Haleakala Ku Hanohano -- a hula dance depicting the beauty of a mountain in Hawaii. The dancers also performed two other numbers -- including Ka Lehua I Milia, a romantic dance involving just four dancers, and Hu'i E, a romantic, "vivacious" dance involving several male members of the Hawaiian club. The a cappella group Counterparts also contributed to the event by singing Honolulu City Lights and other repertoire songs. The event continued as the Hawaii Club involved the crowd with games and door prizes. The audience cheered as friends approached the stage to partake in games like Hawaiian musical chairs. All participants left with prizes such as Hawaiian coffee and chocolates. The event ended as the crowd joined hands and sung "A Hui Hou," a farewell song. Even those who could not speak Hawaiian attempted to sing along. Engineering senior Lora Blackman said she learned a lot about Hawaiian culture from the luau. "They have a lot of state pride and I want to go there now," she said. Kim said the luau is the biggest event held by the Hawaii Club all year. She added that she was "really satisfied" with the way the event turned out. "The event went really well, much better than expected," Kim said.