Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 4, Number 5, 1 May 1987 — Utah Recognizes Polynesian Day [ARTICLE]

Utah Recognizes Polynesian Day

Sa!t Lake City, Utah — GovernorNormanBangerter signed a proclamation March 23 declaring every August 28 as Polynesian Day in the State of Utah. A similar bill passed in both the Utah House and Senate. Attending the signing were members of the Iosepa Historical Society who lobbied to have a day set aside recognizingUtah's first Polynesian pioneers. Mrs. Clara Silva, president of the Iosepa Historical Society, said the "signing culminates the efforts of many people. We labored hard to have our first pioneers recognized." The proclamation recognizes both the first Polynesians who settled in Utah and also those who live in the state today for their numerous contributions to the State of Utah and its culture. The first Polynesians settled in Utah in the 1850s, but it was in 1889 that a group of Hawaiians colonized a barren strip of desert 70 miles west of Salt Lake City. Converts to Mormonism, they had left the Islands for Utah. On August 28, 1889, they began a community named Iosepa (Hawaiian for Joseph, pronounced Ee-oh-see-pa) after Mormon apostle Joseph F. Smith, who had spent many years in Hawaii as a missionary. The original colonizers numbered 50, however, an informal census of the colony in 1908 listed about 100 Hawaiians, 13 Samoans, six Maoris, and one Portuguese, five halfcaste Portuguese, three families of Scotchmen and several English families. Eaeh year the town celebrated its own Pioneer Day on August 28. Guests at various times included the governor of Utah, and the leaders of the Mormon Church. According to Mrs. Silva, "Iosepa became famous throughout the region for its singing groups and the August 28 luaus. The townspeople cooked sheep and pigs in imus and even invented their own version of poi." Eaeh Polynesian group dressed in traditional costumes and performed their Island songs and dances during the day-long celebration. In 1915 Joseph F. Smith, then President of the Mormon Church, announced plans to build a temple in Laie, the church settlement in Hawaii. News of the Hawaiian temple, the first outside of North America, was met with great excitement. When some residents decided to leave Iosepa it had a snowbaliing effect on the rest of the community. By early 1917 the town was deserted. In 1908, a group of Utah Polynesians gathered for Memorial Day activities at Iosepa. That year they formed the Iosepa Historical Association and have since held annual Memorial Day activities. The yearly eelebrations attract over 350 Polynesians, including families from Hawaii whose ancestors are buried in Iosepa. The association is looking forward to a large centennial celebration in 1989. Plans eall for an Iosepa monument to be built that year. Adds Mrs.Silva, "Our association is currently working with the Bureau of Land Management to acquire a two and one-half acre site near the old cemetary. We hope to have that accomplished by the endofthe year." Additionally, the association hosts a weekly radio program called "The Voice of Polynesia" whieh airs Sunday night at 6 p.m. on Utah's public radio station, KROL. Programs, including the songs and history of different island groups, are presented.