Wednesday, August 19, 2015 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
7
Hawaiian luau draws hundreds of guests
By Jodi schneider McNamee
Correspondent
When the original
Polynesian explorers set out
in small wooden canoes they
had no idea of the varied cul-
tures that would spring out of
their efforts. They had no idea
that thousands of years later,
hundreds of people would
gather at Sisters’ Village
Green to celebrate a tradi-
tional Hawaiian feast.
Last Thursday evening
the aroma of Hawaiian flow-
ers and cuisine filled the air
as over 400 guests enjoyed
an authentic meal with enter-
tainment featuring traditional
Polynesian dance and music
presented by Sisters Park &
Recreation District (SPRD)
and The Rotary Club of
Sisters.
The Village Green was
transformed into an Island
paradise with traditional luau
décor, including tiki torches.
“We are very excited about
this event and have over a
hundred more people than
last year,” said Liam Hughes,
SPRD’s executive direc-
tor. “We expanded, then we
sold out, and we had to turn
away nearly 50 people today.
Shannon even added more
food at the end, enough for
425 guests.”
Bi-Mart pharmacist Andy
Mohler and his wife, Jenee
— who wore Hawaiian attire,
including a grass skirt —
waited in line for tropical
cuisine.
“This is the way you
should dress when attending a
luau,” Jenee said smiling.
Scores of folks spread out
on the Village Green lawn
munching on their traditional
luau meal of kalua pig, lomi
lomi salmon, sticky rice, fresh
pineapple, coconut cream
cake, passion fruit juice and
authentic Hawaiian coffee
from the Aikane Plantation in
Ka’u, Hawaii.
“There are a couple of new
things added to our lineup for
tonight’s luau,” said Shannon
Mokuahi Rackowski, SPRD’s
adult-program coordinator.
“The lomi lomi salmon is one,
and it’s a secret recipe that
my mother has made many
times. Lomi lomi means ‘to
massage’ and you massage
the salmon with a special
technique. Also a wonderful
Hawaiian singer, Bill Keale
from Bend, is performing.”
Keale’s first-cousin was
the late singer, Israel “IZ”
Kamakawiwo’ole whose
rendition of “Somewhere
over the Rainbow/What
a Wonderful World” still
inspires many people. Keale
grew up on the Island of Oahu
with Kamakawiwo’ole, and
lived in Hawaii for 30 years,
where he discovered music
and writing. Keale moved to
Bend 25 years ago.
“I don’t know how my
popularity happened in
Central Oregon, I just love
playing music on my guitar
and ukulele,” Keale said.
There wasn’t a dry eye in
the park when Keale played
“Somewhere Over The
Rainbow/What A Wonderful
World” as a tribute to his
cousin while Rackowski hula-
danced to the melody.
Kurt Silva also performed.
This year Rackowski
partnered up with Rosemary
Miller’s nonprofit Uhane
Hula Group, Uhane meaning
“spirit of Hawaii.”
“This year we are doing
a hula with Shannon. She
came out to Bend and taught
our group a special dance.
We also have more students,
including children,” Miller
said. “And of course the kids
will be doing a poi ball dance;
they have a lot of fun with
that.”
The poi, which is a light
ball attached to a cord, is con-
sidered an extension of the
dancer, and the sounds the
balls create when hitting a
surface can be used to mimic
photo by Jerry baldocK
hula dancers were featured in a highly successful hawaiian luau hosted by sprD.
the rhythms of nature.
The ukulele has become
such an essential part of
Hawaiian culture that mere
mention of the word conjures
up images of the Islands.
Sisters Ukelele Group
instructor Peggy Tehan, with
over 20 students, including
Will Werts, a SHS junior who
crafted his own ukulele, per-
formed a few Hawaiian tunes
to an enthusiastic crowd.
“It took me one trimes-
ter to build my ukulele in
Woodworking II class,” Werts
said. “It was a rewarding pro-
cess, but I have never played a
ukulele before. I’m learning a
little at a time, and I’ve prac-
ticed for tonight.”
Chris Dalton, a Sisters
resident since 1972, sat up
front for a birds-eye view of
a Polynesian dance. Dalton is
102 years old and was born
and raised on the Island of
Kauai, Hawaii.
“I’m having a great time
watching these performers
come alive. I enjoyed my
years growing up in Kauai,”
Dalton told The Nugget.
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