Oregon State University - Beaver Yearbook (Corvallis, OR)

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luau 0 1 ssOjr n c At f (’y (oa zn A o A r foa Ai lAra to came o Ao (9J A cam ) us While grey skies hung over Corvallis for the better part of the clay, on one April Saturday the atmosphere was tropical within the four walls of Ciill Coliseum as the SIst annual Luau got underway. Guests were greeted at the door by students like Hawaiian native Charity Kama, who gave them a hug and a lei made out of shells. After this welcoming, guests walked under an umbrella and into Gill, which looked more like a community center than a Division I gym. The floor was covered with tables topped with pineapples fresh from the islands and photos of I lawaiian sights. The stage, with its bor-der of palm fronds, was ready for the variety show later in the evening. Before the show guests were invited to have a real taste of the islands in the form of pa’ina, or dinner. Members of the I lui () I lawaii club, who spent almost six months organizing the l.uau, spent most of the clay cooking the meal. I lawaiian favorites, such as Kalua pig, shoyu chicken, chicken long rice, and lomi lomi salmon were devoured by the crowd of OSU students, alumni, family and community members. Topping it all off was a dessert of hau-pia, a sweet coconut flavored jello type of treat. Throughout the dinner guests were treated to the sounds of I lawaiian group Pari and the northwest group Kalakoa. The main event of the night was the variety show. ()ver 40 students and community members, including the children of some OSC staff members, spent weeks learning and perfecting the intricate steps of the dances. Mach dance came from a specific South Pacific island and told a story or represented a group. A crowd favorite was the dance of the Maori men of Aotearoa. As the program explained, the Maori men would perform a war chant, or haka, before going into battle. The fierce and intense motion of the haka accentuated the size of the warriors’ Ixxlies while the loud, furious words were meant to scare the enemy. One of the highlights of the night was when the dancers invited some of the men in the audience to join the group on stage and learn a part of the Maori war dance. The audience was delighted when President lid Ray hopped up on stage. While no amount of pleading would get him to remove his shirt, Ray gamely let loose a war cry anti stuck out his tongue. Although the l.uau brought a bit of the islands to Corvallis, it was more than a cultural night for the main landers in the audience. It was a taste of home for members of OSU’s large Hawaiian community. The fixxl, entertainment anti sense of community seemed more like a gathering of a large family than a major college event. The theme of the night was Na Mo’olelo, or “The Stories,” but the real stories were the ones audience memlxrrs told each other for the next week as they reminisced about this year’s I Aiau. Story by Colleen Moran

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Above middle: During each blood drive, those who donate can be seen walking out of the MU with colorful bandages and stickers saying “Be nice to me. I gave blood today Photo by Ashley Stocki Above right: Ian McClellen. a junior in general science, donates blood during the winter Wood drive to help save lives. Photo by Justine Rykken Above: Freshman Brenda Buckman squeezes a small rubber ball while donating blood. Participants are asked to squeeze the rubber ball to keep their blood pressure constant and to prevent the vein from collapsing while they donate their pint of blood. Photo by Ashley Slocki Blood-

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Right: Members of the Hui 0 Hawaii club organized this year’s Luau. Besides planning the event, dub members also prepared the decorations, the food, as well as a video about life in Hawaii. Photo by Hank Hirsch Above middle: Shuan Palakiko (standing) performs a Fijian dance. This particular dance was meant to depict movements used in battle. Above right: An OSU employee demonstrates the firece and intense motions of the Maori war chant, also called a haka. Photos by Hank Hirsch Above: OSU students perform He Mcle No Manu Alae. a dance that tells the story of the mud hens. According to legend, the mud hens were the keepers of fire before a Hawaiian demi god learned their secret. Photo by Hank Hirsch