Henderson festival highlights Hawaiian heritage

By Jeremy Twitchell

Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008 | 4:33 p.m.

Pacific Island transplants to the Las Vegas Valley are gathering in Henderson Saturday and Sunday for the 18th annual Prince Jonah Kuhio Ho’olaule’a Pacific Islands Festival.

The annual showcase for the culture and people of the various Pacific Islands, Japan and China brought dozens of performers on Saturday and was expected to bring thousands of attendees during its two-day run at the Henderson Events Plaza.

Organizers say the festival, sponsored by the Las Vegas Hawaiian Civic Club, has become an annual highlight for Las Vegas' thriving Pacific Island communities, particularly the natives of Hawaii's eight islands who have made Las Vegas their home.

"(Las Vegas) is known as the Ninth Island," Civic Club President Charles Herring said. "It's a melting pot. You have people from all kinds of different cultures here. ... When you talk about the Spirit of Aloha, that's what you feel here."

That "Spirit of Aloha" is what native Hawaiians say defines their culture -- a spirit of friendliness extended to people of all cultures, which might account for the diversity of the crowd at the festival.

"It's having the kindness, the compassion, the respect, the love," said festival performer Jonathan Hoomanawanui. "It's unlike any other culture."

Hoomanawanui, like many native Hawaiians who have chosen to relocate to Las Vegas, did so because of the economy and the availability of relatively cheap flights back home to Hawaii.

And with so many Hawaiians settling here, events like the Prince Jonah Kuhio festival become increasingly important to make sure that they don't lose touch with their heritage, he said.

"It is very important to stay connected, to know your history and know your roots," Hoomanawanui said. "It's important to know the culture and understand where we come from."

But beyond the music, dance and art of the Pacific Islands, one other aspect draws the crowds.

"It's the food, of course," Herring said. "A lot of the vendors here are locals but natives of Hawaii, so you get that island taste."

The festival is in its second year in Henderson. It moved out of Las Vegas because the previous site became too pricey, Herring said. The event has grown significantly this year, closing down a block of Water Street to make additional space for booths and a second stage.

"It's a trial-and-error thing," Herring said. "We're trying to get an idea for the space and the crowd."

With the space packed within two hours of the festival's opening and the crowds holding strong through its first day, the experiment seems to have paid off.

"This is a great turnout," Herring said.

Jeremy Twitchell can be reached at 990-8928 or [email protected].