Wondering how the annual Lū’au went? Look no further than this article.
The 35th annual Lū’au dance event took place the night of April 6 at the Felix Event Center. Before the Lū’au performance, there was a dinner special that included traditional Hawaiian food, shaved ice, and floor seating.
The Lū’au was rooted in the gospel with the theme entitled “Pathway to Jesus.” The women of the Bible who had made an impact in history, like paving the way for Jesus, were celebrated. The gospel was shared through bedtime stories by a mom telling her daughters stories about those women and the importance of faith and perseverance.
All the performers for the Polynesian dances were students who volunteered to be a part of the Lū’au. Dozens of students volunteered for the event and put on great performances throughout the night. The students showed their dedication by practicing choreography for months before the Lū’au.
There were several dances throughout the show such as Haka women and men. The Felix Event Center was packed with a sea of people in the audience. Many families came to see and support their sons and daughters who performed in the Lū’au. Several families flew in from different states and one family came from Japan.
The show was entertaining and had the audience laughing when a few audience members came on stage to learn some Polynesian dance moves. The ethnic costumes were bright and colorful and highlighted the performers’ movements.
“I loved the show! It was amazing! It helped me see the beauty of traditional storytelling because I was able to see the stories I was told, growing up in the church in a different light,” said Daniel Medley, a sophomore art major.
“My favorite performance was ‘Hula Auana Wahine Lei Hala.’ I loved this one because it was so beautiful to see all the moves in sync, it was like watching the ocean waves as they gently are pulled by the winds,” said Medley.
Medley also shared that the performances opened up his eyes to details he missed in the Bible, especially regarding women.
Another student, junior journalism major Katie Weber, shared her perspective of the show. “I really liked the show because it was showing a culture that I was not familiar with, but it was all APU students who came together with different talents and walks of life and faith to put on this show,” said Weber.
Weber said that her favorite thing about the Lū’au was how all the attendees were into it, even though it was not their culture. Everyone came together to celebrate this culture and the women of the Bible and they did it with such enthusiasm. Even I could tell they cared so much.
Overall, the show was a success. Over 900 people were in attendance cheering the performers on. It made the atmosphere in the Felix Event Center buzzing with excitement. The show was organized and decorated well.
Freshman kinesiology major Maddox Bradley, a performer in the Lū’au, shared his experience performing on stage.
“It was awesome! I just love being a part of this culture. It’s a blessing to have the opportunity to perform with these guys. I couldn’t have asked for a better family to perform this Haka with. It was fantastic,” said Bradley.
Bradley also shared that every Thursday for two months for an hour they rehearsed for the Lū’au and it was a great process. He realized through the rehearsal process that performing on stage he is glorifying God through his body movements. That was the biggest realization for him coming into the Polynesian culture was how they dance to glorify and show God through their dances.
The Lū’au was a memorable event for APU students and their families. If you haven’t gone to this annual event, go next April.