As the conch shell blew and the drums started beating, expectations blossomed on June 11 and 12 that the San Dimas Ho'olaule'a would bring in badly needed funding for the animal sanctuary at the Nature Center of the San Dimas Regional County Park.
After a hiatus of a year, the Ho'olaule'a was back, offering two days of polynesian music, dance and culture. The Hawaiian festival was the brain child of Park Superintendant Roddy Gregory whose musical talents and connection to Southern California's Hawaiian community made everything possible.
"We wanted to bring a taste of the 'Aloha spirit' to share some of what we grew up with in Hawaii," he said. "At the same time we needed to feed the animals and provide for their medical care."
On June 11 and 12, some 19 dance studios and musicians brought troups of Hawaiian, Samoan, Tongan, Tahitian and Maori dancers who performed to music that was mostly by live bands. There was never a gap in the music, as musicians shuffled on and off two side stages and costumed dancers strutted and swayed in colorful grass skirts, textiles and gowns of traditional patterns and colors.
Thousands of visitors flocked to the park to enjoy the entertainment, patronize the food booths and to shop for clothing, jewelry and even musical instruments representing modern polynesian culture. "Aloha!" and "E como mai," (hello and welcome) were heard as the host Kamaka Brown, local entertainer, writer and comic, explained the dances, told stories and generally offered "Hawaiian hospitality" from the stage.
Visitors from the community were surprised at the size and quality of the festivities. "I've lived here for years and never knew this was here," a young father marveled. Surrounding the grassy seating area, a line of tables offered crafts for children and displays of wild birds and reptiles from the Nature Center, Wild Wings and the Herpetology Society. Smoky the Bear even made a cheerful appearance, posing and hamming it up for the "keikis" (children).
The Ho'olaule'a has been an annual event since 2006, except for the brief hiatus. In the meantime, funding cuts and budget woes have reduced the staff and budget of the Nature Center. Currently, the sanctuary houses a deer, raccon, two red tailed hawks, barn owl, great horned owl, tortoises, turtles, kestrils, a tarantula and a newt. The animals at the Center are not living there to be exhibits but for one reason or another, can never be returned to the wild. A few can be used for outreach and education but with budget cuts, many programs to elementary schools have been eliminated. Classes taught by naturalists have also been cut.
The Nature Center does offer volunteer opportunities for those who need training in working with animals, such as those who hope to volunteer at the Los Angeles Zoo in Griffith Park. Volunteers help to look after the animals, raise funds and support the youth programs of the Center. The success of the Ho'olaule'a brings a sense of relief to these staff and volunteers who care f
or the animals, many of whom require specialized diets and medicine from time to time.The park itself provided a sylvan setting, perfect for the expression of "aloha," which Gregory defines as a combination of friendliness and respect for one another that is the foundation of Hawaiian culture. The shady green trees and the grassy lawns brought a memory of Hawaii, a perfect compliment to the music and the scent of Hawaiian food that filled the air. The Hawaiian community involves more than the Ho'olaule'as, the many festivals held in the area. It stays connected with clubs, a musicians circuit, and, recently, through the modern technologies of email and facebook.
Gregory expressed gratitude that some of the finest performers of the Hawaiian arts are willing to showcase their talents in support of the Nature Center. With a ban on alcoholic drinks, the San Dimas Ho'olaule'a has become a family oriented event, retaining its connection with the outdoors, the animals and the wilderness. Part of the activities included hiking in the foothills of the park, displays of native wildflowers, birds and reptiles. The Forest Service was represented. But the main attraction was the food, clothing and jewelry by vendors who offered a unique glimpse into one of the many cultures that makes up the quilt that is Southern California.
"This fundraiser is more than a fundraiser," Gregory said. "Yes the overall goal is to raise money, but it's more than that. We were blessed to be raised in Hawaii within a culture of both friendliness and respect. It's people enjoying themselves. It's a way of sharing it with people."
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