Thirty years of Aloha

“We want people learning about the culture, sharing and enjoying the day,” Mary Leong, president of the Pacific Islanders’ Cultural Association, which is putting on the event. “It is important to me to be able to perpetuate the culture, to build relationships with others.”

The two-day event will feature live hula dance, contemporary and traditional music, Hawaiian and Pacific Islander food, artisan vendors, community booths, educational workshops, prize raffle drawings and a children’s activity corner. 

Leong recalls Hōkūleʻa’s first visit to the Bay as the “most magnificent thing” where people threw flowers from the Golden Gate Bridge and celebrated in traditional song and dance on Crissy Field, a sight that solidified PICA’s presence in the Bay Area. 

It traveled 2,900 nautical miles from Hawaii to Seattle and then San Francisco with no fuel, modern navigation systems or maps — relying only on the stars, winds, clouds and ocean currents. It was greeted by tens of thousands of people, and its arrival marked the launch of the Bay Area Aloha Festival.

Some founding members of PICA who witnessed the first Hōkūleʻa visit have died so it’s important to continue the legacy, Leong said.

Saturday will be a performance-packed day with performances by several Bay Area dance companies and artists like Halau Hula Hi’ilani ‘O Ke Kai and Halau Na maka ‘Olali, Hula Halau O Nalua and Otea Api, Manuia Polynesia Review, Na Leo Pumehana, and Ukulele Jams. 

On Sunday, there will be performances by Na Hoaloha, Ten Feet, West Island Reggae and Legacies of the Pacific’s Sisters of Spirit of Polynesia. 

Both days will host the island marketplace and food court options. Many of the food and craft vendors fly in from Hawaii and other islands.

This year’s festival headliner is Ten Feet, a reggae band from the valley of Kahili, Oahu, Hawaii, that will first perform at the San Jose Buddhist Church Annex on Saturday and the Aloha Festival on Sunday. 

Additionally, people can learn to make leis, perform Lomi Lomi massages, and explore cultural, health, and job services at various educational workshops. For those bringing little ones, the Ohana Keiki Korner will have activities like ukulele lessons, traditional net making and candy lei crafts to learn about Pacific Islander culture. 

“We do this as a passion,” Leong said. “We want people to have a good time and support us.” 

Admission to this year’s Aloha Fest is free with a $5 donation. Parking at the Event Center is $20. People may bring beach chairs, blankets, food and beverages. To keep a family friendly atmosphere, alcohol is not permitted. The event is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday. Main stage performances will begin at 11 a.m. 

Visit pica-org.org for more information on the festival and Pacific Islanders’ Cultural Association.