Fifth annual Pacific Islanders Club luau Saturday

The Portland State Pacific Islanders Club will hold its fifth annual luau on May 19, which participants say they hope will strengthen community ties among club members and students at Portland State.

The luau will showcase traditional dancers, food and other activities starting at 5 p.m. on Saturday in the PSU Peter Stott Center. Pacific Islanders Club President Makerusa Portesano said around 600 people attended the luau last year, and that he anticipates higher attendance this year because of the club’s promotional activities.

“We have been promoting like crazy for this with fliers, doing plugs on KBOO and 95.5,” Portesano said.

He said entertainment is not the only reason he wants to see more people at this year’s luau. The majority of the proceeds from this year’s event will help fund a scholarship awarded to first-generation PSU students of Pacific Island descent. The scholarship, named after two primary supporters of Portland’s Pacific Islander community, will hopefully raise attendance levels, Portesano said.

“I hope a lot of people show up because the proceeds go to a good cause,” he said.

Portesano said that such generosity is central to the Pacific Islander community. Funding for the luau comes primarily from donations of local families, PSU faculty, and support from student groups on campus, he said. Families of club members also help with costume and food preparation for the event, he said.

“We get so that we can give,” Portesano said about the philanthropic basis of the club.

Increasing diversity at Portland State and contributing to cultural experiences is one of Portesano’s goals in reaching out to the native Pacific Islanders at PSU. This diversity is evident in the group’s membership, Portesano said, with the group representing many Polynesian countries.

Many native practices from different Pacific Island cultures will be on display during the luau. Dancing will be a main attraction, with people performing dances from Hawaii, Samoa, New Zealand and several other Polynesian countries.

Portesano also teaches and performs dance for luau, an activity that requires extensive practice.

“The girls are really committed, they have practiced every day,” Portesano said. “But us boys, we are a little last minute with getting ready.”

Danielle Reynolds, a freshman at Portland State, is a new member to the Pacific Islander club and said the practice hours are long. Reynolds will be performing five different types of dances for her debut luau performance.

Reynolds said it was her love of dance and fondness for the people that motivated her to participate in the luau.

“I always liked to dance in general and I like hanging out with the people and learning,” Reynolds said.

In addition to learning about Polynesian dance and culture, Reynolds said many of her close friendships came from her involvement in the club.

“I am being exposed to a whole new culture. It’s interesting, fun and I would not have half the friends I have now if it weren’t for the club,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds also said she feels the most rewarding part of the event will be seeing the outcome of all the hard work.

“I hope it turns out well and that everyone likes what we present to them,” she said.

Family is equally important to Portesano. His family, which he said is the largest Samoan family in Portland, encouraged Portesano to get involved at Portland State.

“I had plans to go to the University of Hawaii, but the people and my family here convinced me to stay,” Portesano said. Today Portesano works with the admissions department at Portland State to recruit Hawaiian students to the university.

“Hawaii is a big melting pot of Polynesian diversity,” Portesano said.