Sophomore Nikki Castillo works on her dance moves with other members of the Hawaii Club in preparation for their annual luau.
Each movement, each word, each rock of swaying hips — they all have meaning in the hearts of dancers who do the hula.
Hula dancers from the University Hawaii Club will have the opportunity to share their love for the dance, culture, food and music with the rest of campus at the 27th annual Hawaii Club Luau on Saturday at McArthur Court.
Following a traditional Hawaiian dinner, club members will present a story told through dance about a young Hawaiian woman who brings her Oregon-born boyfriend back to the islands to show him the beauty and romance of the culture, freshman Jennifer Chee said.
One of the dances will be to a “cheesy” song in order to help reveal and dispel incorrect stereotypes about Hawaiian culture, she said.
“Most of the time people think grass skirts and coconut bras,” Chee said. “We call that ‘Waikiki Hula,’ and we want to give a contrast to that image.”
Chee, who has 12 years of experience in Hawaiian dance, helped teach three of the 10 dances for the luau. The music and organization of Saturday’s show have a lot to do with the experience of this year’s performers.
“Most songs are based on dancers’ abilities and how it fits in the program,” she said.
Luau coordinator Candance Imouye said dancers have been practicing since late January “trying to get to perfection.” She said she hopes the luau sells out, at which point more than 1000 people would occupy the court.
What she is excited about most this year, she said, is the concert scheduled after the dance show, featuring a band flown all the way from Hawaii for the performance.
“We are all so excited that we’re actually going to have a band this year,” Imouye said.
Ho’onu’a, as they are known to fans back home, consists of two front men and some instrumental back up. According to freshman Christina Chun, one of the luau dancers, their music tends to be called “Jawaiian,” as it resembles a mix between Hawaiian and Jamaican reggae and rap.
“They are one of the bigger bands in Hawaii,” Chun said. “They’re really good.”
Food for the luau will be prepared by University Catering according to student recipes and under supervision during the process, Imouye said. The menu will include lomi lomi Salmon, teriyaki chicken, rice and haupia, a coconut gelatin dessert.
Chee and Chun agree that the Kalua pig tends to be the all-time favorite, but they both enjoy the acquired taste of a more native dish, poi.
“It looks like tapioca but it feels like glue … like tapioca glue,” Chun laughed.
Chee summed up her fixation with the food by saying, “You gotta have poi.”
Tickets are available at the Erb Memorial Union Ticket Office — $18 with students I.D. and $20 for the general public for the whole evening, or $10 for just the concert. The luau will consist of dinner at 5:30 p.m., a show at 6 p.m. with 10 dances, and the live band at 9 p.m. Doors open at 4 p.m., and aloha attire is essential.
Caron Alarab is a freelance reporter
for the Emerald.