Ho'olaule'a 2012

Wahine ("women" in Hawaiian) in metallic grass skirts dancing. Photo by Ianna Angelo.

Last weekend, on July 21st we met about halfway between our hometowns in the city of Lawndale for the 2012 Ho'olaule'a. The Ho'olaule'a is a Polynesian cultural festival that is held every summer in Lawndale by the Hawaiian Inter-Club Council of Southern California. Although the festival is coordinated by this Hawaiian cultural club, many Polynesian cultures are represented at the festival, including the Philippines, Tahiti, Fiji, Guam, Tonga, and Samoa. As a very proud hapa baby (a mix of Polynesian and White European), this is a festival Helaina has attended at least every few summers or so of her entire life to reconnect with her heritage. This was the first time Ianna, and some other friends who joined us, have ever attended the festival, but it is probably a safe bet that it was not the last! It was a hot summer day in southern California, and we enjoyed lots of muic, entertainment, a bit of shopping, and of course, a great sample of some Polynesian-American cuisine!

For an early lunch-late breakfast, a few of us enjoyed some combination plates from the food vendors. Much of Polynesian (Hawaiian, Samoan, etc.) emphasizes grilled fish, barbequed pork, rice, and some roots and veggies. There is also some fusion influence of American cuisine that incorporates macaroni and potato salads, cole slaw, and even barbequed chicken.  

Grilled Ahi Tuna marinated with garlic, served with sticky rice and soy sauce. Photo by Ianna Angelo.

Super tender barbequed Kahlua marinated pork, served with sticky rice, cabbage salad, and mandarin orange slices. One of Helaina's childhood favorites! Photo by Ianna Angelo.

There were an array of beautiful plants for sale at the Ho'olaule'a. Photo by Ianna Angelo

As the day grew hotter, we cooled off with some fresh tropical fruit. Besides the mango and pineapple pictured here, there were also offerings of coconuts, coconut waters, orange-pineapple drinks, pineapple lemonades, and many other choices as well.

The LHF ladies enjoying some fresh mango and salted pineapple, trying to stay cool on a hot summer day. Photo by Ianna Angelo/Sarah McCutcheon.

Flowers for sale at the Ho'olaulea'a. Photo by Ianna Angelo.

More wahine doing a traditional Hawaiian hula. Photo by Ianna Angelo.

Kane ("men" in Hawaiian) doing a more aggressive dance with coordinated stomping, clapping, and hitting. Photo by Ianna Angelo.

Ianna wanted to take all the flowers home with her. Photo by Ianna Angelo.

As the afternoon went on, instead of shelling out extra cash for large combination plates, we opted for different snack type foods so we could both sample some more options as well as stretch our cash a little further. Ianna got a Hawaiian shaved ice, which is best explained as ice shavings in a cup flavored with colorful sugar syrups that come in an array of flavors such as cotton candy, lime, strawberry, apple, watermelon, raspberry, pineapple, and many more! Helaina went for something a little more savory that is presumably only available at these sorts of Polynesian events or restaurants. She went for a manapua, a steamed bun stuffed with sweet tender barbequed pork....another treat taking her back to child hood memories of summer. 

Miss Ianna enjoying a rainbow Hawaiian Shaved Ice. Photo by Sarah McCutcheon/Ianna Angelo.

Helaina with a manapua and Ianna with her shaved ice. Photo by Sarah McCutcheon/Ianna Angelo.

-H