Get Ready for the Polynesian Culture Night!
By Oli Byrd
The Polynesian Culture Night Luau is finally here. Polynesian Heritage Association (PHA) members have been practicing all year for the school’s biggest student-led event. Mark your calendars for Friday, April 19th at 7:00 pm, and show up early because the barn will be packed. I sat down with some PHA members to talk about what the Luau is and what students can expect.
I had the opportunity to talk to Sikeli Naivalu (Business Management, ’26) first. I asked him to give a little background about PHA . He said, “The Polynesian Heritage Association is just a group of people from all over who came together to celebrate our roots. A lot of us came here for sports so we get together and do activities like family home evenings, barbecues, and the biggest one that we do is the luau.”
The luau is put on by the Polynesian Heritage Association and university. The purpose of the luau is to share the different Polynesian cultures at this school and to be a sort of break from school for one night. There will be six different islands represented at this year’s luau. They will be Aotearoa (New Zealand), Tahiti, Tonga, Hawai’i, Fiji, and Samoa.
Sikeli represents the island of Fiji, and he is most excited about the island’s dance. He said, “It is not hard to dance Fiji, and it tells a story and really showcases the role of men and women in Fijian society. Fijian culture is built heavily on respect and reciprocity, and you can see that in the dance.”
Wondering Why You Should Go?
I asked a few members of PHA to explain why people should come to the luau. Sikeli said, “It is going to be sick as hell. If you went last year you know. You get to see some of your classmates and teammates do some crazy stuff on stage. Everyone should definitely be ready to have fun.”
Sione Tokelau told me, “It is going to be the best thing that has ever happened at SVU. If you miss it, you are lame.”
The Luau is an amazing chance to learn more about different Polynesian cultures and a chance to have a great night. I know I am excited for it, so be there or be square.
