Folesi Lefaoseu, Marjorie Sua and Avao Lagi prepare dinner at Fagaloa Bay Samoan Meals’s stand on the second annual Samoan Heritage Pageant in Kearns on Wednesday, July 19, 2023. Spenser Heaps, Deseret Information
Meaese Pacific Northwest, a cricket staff from Seattle, comes off the pitch after its match on the second annual Samoan Heritage Pageant in Kearns on Wednesday, July 19, 2023. Spenser Heaps, Deseret Information
Though cultural performances, meals vans, a rugby match and distributors would possibly draw many to this week's Samoan Heritage Pageant, Pasitale Lupeamanu says the multi-day occasion is de facto about "sharing our love for the group."
Lupeamanu is president of Alofa Fa’aSamoa, the nonprofit answerable for organizing the competition. The nonprofit's identify is Samoan for "sharing our love for the group," he mentioned. And it shapes how the nonprofit approaches the competition and serving Utah's Samoan group, which Lupeamanu says is the biggest of any U.S. state. The free competition, held at Southridge Park, 5051 S. 4015 West in Taylorsville, runs by way of Saturday.
"Our complete objective is to place a smile on all people's face," Lupeamanu mentioned. "Alofa Fa'aSamoa is all abut sharing our love, whether or not you are black, blue, purple — no matter shade you might be, we're open to any races, any nationality, any group."
The nonprofit has been round since 2018, however did not take off till final 12 months when it organized its first competition. Lupeamanu hopes the nonprofit and competition will proceed to develop, however he pressured that extra monetary sources are wanted to take action.
"Proper now we're simply scratching the floor, simply looking for a spot of our personal," he mentioned. "We simply need to serve. If we will serve any person and provides a smile to any person, that is a win for us."
Maryan Savini, who co-owns Anwhut One-Cease Polynesian Store in Taylorsville, mentioned she and her enterprise associate determined to be a vendor on the competition to indicate their help for the group.
Meaese Pacific Northwest, a cricket staff from Seattle, comes off the pitch after its match on the second annual Samoan Heritage Pageant in Kearns on Wednesday, July 19, 2023.
Spenser Heaps, Deseret Information
"I believe we do higher collectively as one as an alternative of separating like these are Samoans, these are Tongans. All of us migrate from the Pacific Islands. I believe all of us simply have to work collectively to construct our group," Savini mentioned. "We now have a uncommon, very sturdy group right here in Utah, however I believe if everybody else that owns companies or has organizations got here collectively as one, we might be a powerful face in Utah."
Haviar Tuitama-Hafoka runs Malialole Polynesian Cultural Arts Ensemble alongside along with his mom, Vida Tu'itama'alelagi Hafoka. He pressured that the competition is an opportunity to see Polynesian tradition displayed appropriately and with respect.
"There's loads of us and we're not historic relics which are from luaus," he mentioned. "I believe lots of people have this false impression that we as a individuals do not exist or that we're not there, so then there's loads of countercultures that strive performing or they've this kind of like luau tradition the place there is a lack of information."
Along with performing on the competition, Tuitama-Hafoka's group can be concerned in operating the competition's youth workshops at Kearns Library, which cowl matters like navigating tradition as Polynesian People. He hopes the performances and workshops will assist bridge the hole between first-generation Polynesians and people who have been right here a number of generations.
"It is a hopeful understanding that our legacy will proceed on and our tradition will proceed on — and that we will totally submerse ourselves with being People but in addition being Polynesians and embracing our tradition and persevering with our tradition right here," he mentioned.
Naomi Thompson Ama, a Saoman who grew up in Hawaii, has lived in Utah for 30 years. She mentioned she makes a degree every year to attend Polynesian festivals. It is an opportunity to see household and buddies, store for Polynesian items and eat island meals, she mentioned with a cup of 'otai in hand.
"As Polynesian individuals, it is all in regards to the meals. We're so distant from dwelling — Hawaii, Tonga, Samoa. These are among the issues that we miss: our island meals, the artifacts, the totally different fashions they provide you with," she mentioned. "The festivals encourage our individuals to be one and to be glad and to get pleasure from one another. We're very shut knit group, the Polynesian group."