Story by Kathleen Sumagit-Rivera
Photos by Kevin Minderhout

For this year’s Lu’au, the University of Oregon’s Hawai’i Club is shedding many of its traditions, some more than three decades old. Scheduled for May 1 from 2 to 10 p.m. on the Gerlinger Lawn and in the Woodruff Gym, the 35th Annual Lu’au “Hui Pu Kakou” (“We Are United”) will still feature Hawaiian dances, music, and food in an effort to educate the public about Hawaiian culture.

However, as Lu’au coordinator Chasidy Wright explains, some members of the Hawai’i Club felt it was time to change things up. Each year, members felt pressured to outdo the last Lu’au, and in the quest to produce a great show, the true spirit of lu’au was lost. It was time to gain that spirit back, even if it meant giving up 34 years of tradition. Ethos sat down with Wright to discuss the lu’au’s transformation and the club’s push for unity.
 
Kathleen Sumagit-Rivera: How is this year’s Lu’au different from previous years?
Chasidy Wright: We added more opportunities for our guests to interact with each other and members of the club. We added cultural games, crafts, and booths for guests to be exposed to other parts of Hawaiian culture. Previous Lu`aus seemed too big and did not attract as much people as the club needed, so another goal was to downscale it. We are also having it outdoors on Gerlinger lawn so that Lu’au is accessible to the community. We are only charging for the booths and food. People are welcome to sit on the grass and listen to the live bands.
KSR: What caused the change?
CW: The drastic change had to deal with the fact that Mac Court was no longer available to us. I also felt like Lu`au was a cultural show that didn’t really allow guests and Hawai’i club members to interact because it was too focused on the performances. People would become so stressed out about the performances that we lost sight of the true essence of a lu’au, which is low-key and relaxed.
KSR: Tell me about your own experience of being caught up and too consumed with the showcase aspect of Lu’au. What made you realize that too much focus was given to the performances?
CW: I thought that if we took some focus off of the performances and presented an opportunity for people to experience the beauty of our culture through hands-on activities, then the guests would take away more from the event. I don’t think it really shows what the club has to offer, with our diverse backgrounds and talents, if we only focus on the showcase. It made us seem like we were only trying to make our money back or give the audience what they wanted to see.
KSR: What do you think are common stereotypes about Hawaiian culture? How will this year’s Lu’au break those ideas and educate people about Hawaiian culture?
CW: Common stereotypes are those that people see in the media or popular culture. Beautiful girls in grass skirts and surfers lounging on nice beaches. The media commercialize Hawaiian culture, so I hope the interactive element will open people’s eyes to the misleading image the media produces.

KSR: What is the hardest part about planning the event?
CW: I would say that getting the Hawai’i Club’s support and getting them excited about the event was difficult. With all the changes this year, people in the club who held on to traditions were very skeptical and not driven to help out with the event. Although there were a lot of doubts, we managed to come together with a sense of pride and accomplishment.
KSR: Why did the Hawai’i Club choose the theme “Hui Pu Kakou” (We Are United) for this year’s Lu’au?
CW: Many clubs and students on campus always acknowledge how they are different or unique. This year, the executive board and I wanted Lu`au to be about how we are all united, not on what makes the club different from the rest of campus clubs.
The date of Lu’au also had a lot of influence over the theme. This year the event is held on May 1st, which is also known as May Day in Hawai’i. Ever since 1928, May Day has been known as Lei Day, where everyone participates in festivities and wears a lei. A lei symbolizes unity where each flower is connected in a never-ending circle. Hence, the theme “We are United” builds off of the idea of a lei and its unification.