Press Release
Pacific University’s Hawaiian Club Presents 48th Annual Lu`au
(FOREST GROVE, OR) Pacific University’s Hawaiian Club, Na Haumana O Hawai`i, will sponsor the 48th annual Lu`au on Saturday, April 12, 2008. The theme for the Lu`au is Ka Honua Kamaha `o "A Wonderful World." The evening will include traditional Polynesian dance, music and entertainment, as well as an authentic Lu’au menu.
The Lu`au meal, which includes kalua pig, chicken long rice, teriyaki chicken, poi, haupia, coconut cake, and Lu`au punch, is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. in the University Center on campus. The show will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the Pacific Athletic Center. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for the show.
Students from Hawaii make up 20 percent of the student body at Pacific University. The Lu`au is a time for members of Pacific’s Hawaiian Club to share their culture. The student chairpersons are Reggie Torres, Kihei Castillo, and Stephanie Murayama. Alan and Adrienne Kamaura from Oahu are the parent coordinators.
"Each Lu`au is a collaborative effort of Pacific students, club members, faculty, staff, community members and businesses and family members at home in Hawaii," said Tiffany Yabuta, last year’s Lu`au chairperson. "Many students’ parents come from the Islands a week in advance to make leis and put together decorations. They come up more to help us than to enjoy it themselves. It’s very touching to see everyone working together."
A Hawaiian General Store in the Pacific Athletic Center will feature Hawaiian specialties flown in from the Islands. Fresh pineapples, cookies, chocolate covered macadamia nuts, leis, jams and jellies, and other treats will be available Saturday, 10 a.m-4 p.m., and at 5:30 p.m. before the evening show.
Tickets are available at the Pacific University Information Center. Cost for reserved seating is $23 for the meal and show, $17 for the show only. Reserved seating for senior citizens (60 and older) and children (10 and younger) is $21 for the meal and show, $15 for the show only. General admission tickets (bleacher seating) are $19 for the meal and show, $13 for the show only. General admission for senior citizens and children is $16 for the meal and show, $8 for the show only. Some general admission tickets will be available at the door, but the presentation usually sells out every year, with 2,300 in attendance. Tickets are also available via mail order at the Lu’au website, www.pacificu.edu/studentlife/luau/.
The Lu`au is produced and presented by the Pacific University student Hawaiian Club in order to raise money for community service projects and club activities. The Hawaiian Club was founded in 1959 with 16 students. The students actively shared their Island traditions by performing various functions both on and off the University campus. By 1962, 60 student Club members represented the eight islands of Hawaii. The Club has recently opened membership to anyone interested in learning more about the Hawaiian culture and now boasts more than 200 members.
For more information, contact Edna K. Gehring at (503) 352-2073, email: luau@pacificu.edu. Information is also available on the student life website (www.pacificu.edu/studentlife/luau/).
Pacific University in Forest Grove, Ore., is one of the West’s oldest chartered higher education institutions. Pacific annually ranks as one of America’s Best Colleges by U.S. News & World Report and is ranked as one of the best tuition values in the West. With an enrollment of more than 2,500 students, Pacific University provides an excellent academic experience linking theory to practice in education.