On May 11, Hōkūpa’a, Dartmouth’s Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander student group, held their annual lū’au on the Baker-Berry lawn. The event drew an audience of around 800 Dartmouth community members, who had the chance to dance and make leis.
The event featured seven Hawaiian Hula and Tokelauan dance performances, with a song performed by guest artist Pelehonuamea Harman.
The theme of the event was “I Lei Nou, For You a Lei,” which Hōkūpa’a member Chase Kamikawa ’26 said had an important meaning for the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander community at Dartmouth.
“We think of the lei in this setting as a metaphor, as a connector of all of our Pacifica peoples but also our communities here at Dartmouth,” Kamikawa said. “ … We chose songs that kind of fit within that theme, and choreographed, hula, that’s easy enough for everyone of all different backgrounds to learn.”
Towards the end of the event, Hōkūpa’a dancers invited people from the audience to join the stage and perform together with simple dance moves.
“When my parents were here, they were part of the crew that founded Hōkūpa’a,” Li’ua Tengan ’25 said. “Ever since, I’ve been committed to kind of following through in their legacy, and I just love sharing our culture, our Polynesian culture — Hawaiian, and Samoan, Tongan, Fijian, Tahitian and all of our Pacifica cultures — with the rest of Dartmouth, to show them what true Pacifica is.”
At the start of the event, the audience was reminded of the history of Hōkūpa’a and Lū’au at Dartmouth. In 1996, the first Lū’au was held at Dartmouth and hosted by Ku’ulei Tengan ’97 and Ty Tengan ’97.
For newer members of Hōkūpa’a, Dustin Kealoha ’28 and Elise Wong ’28, being a member of Hōkūpa’a and Lū’au was an important part of their transition to Dartmouth.
“It feels like a home away from home because the Hawaiian community here is really strong. It’s just really nice to see everybody who’s embracing our culture,” Wong said.
Kealoha agreed.
“Hōkūpaʻa is a family, it’s not a club,” Keoloha said.
The preparation of the event is a year-long process with a long planning time and process.
“Each year, we like to kind of outdo ourselves,” Tengan said “… We’re already booking things from the fall term and ordering our clothes and booking our performances. It takes place over the course of the year.”
Alumni and parents of alumni also came together to help with the planning of the event. For instance, Shannon Javillonar P’23 restaurant-owner and caterer came from Hawaii to cater for the event.
Audience members also enjoyed the event and found it memorable to see the Dartmouth community come together for the event.
“As an international student, it is nice because I’ve never experienced these cultures and I’ve only seen Hawaiian dances in [the] media and movies,” Olivia Tak ’28 said. “Now, being here and actually seeing people doing the hula, it’s like a different experience.”
Women’s rugby team head coach Katie Dowty said she came to support the six rugby players performing at the event.
“One of our player’s parents started Hōkūpa’a back in 1996, so it’s a long connection to the tradition,” Dowty said. “Another one of our players taught the Tahitian dance to the group, and that's a proud moment for her, and we’re proud of her for doing that and being able to share that and express it. It’s just a really beautiful thing.”
