Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 22, Number 11, 1 November 2005 — Pan -Polynesian Pā ʻina [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Pan -Polynesian Pā ʻina

By Sterling Kini Weng Publicatiūns Editor Throughout the Pacific, the season of Makahiki, whieh begins with the appearance of the Pleiades

constellation above the eastern horizon eaeh fall and marks the start of a new year, was traditionally a time for peaee, healing and thanks. In celebration of the Makahiki season,

the Pasifika Foundation, Ke Ala 'Ōlino Native Cultural Center and the Pu'uhonua Society are putting on Makahiki Pasifika Week in Honolulu from Nov. 19 to 26. Organizers of the event drew inspiration from the hugely popular Pasifika Festival in Auckland, Aotearoa, whieh was attended by 220,000 people earlier this year. The festivities will kiek off with the annual Maohi Native Cultural Festival Nov. 19 at the Kapi'olani Park bandstand. The all-day event, whieh was first held in 2003, brings together people from throughout the Pacific to learn about their shared cultures, with cultural presentations including the arts of Polynesian drumming and Samoan fire knife dancing, native arts and crafts, Polynesian tattoo, food, exhibits, demonstrations and music. According to organizers, the event is intended "to encourage unity, peaee, healing and aloha during the Makahiki season." The celebration will close on Nov. 25 with a concert at the Waiklkl Shell by Te Vaka, one of the Pacific's most widely popular contemporary music groups. The

ll-member band from Aotearoa (New Zealand) is known for pairing explosive Polynesian rhythms with socially conscious lyrics that address contemporary issues facing Pacific Islanders. Concert tickets are available at the Blaisdell Center Box Office and all Ticketmaster outlets. S

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PĀHEONA • EVENTS

New Zealand-based group Te Vaka will perform at the Waikīkī Shell in November. - Photo: KW0 Archive