On Saturday, Aug. 26, the first South Pacific Festival celebrating various Polynesian and Micronesian cultures was held at the Columbia County amphitheater.
With vendors selling authentic South Pacific food, fabrics and handmade accessories, attendees could experience a multitude of island traditions and goods.
Free to the public and created to bring the local Polynesian community together, organizer Hula Mageo said she wanted to educate Augustans about the differences between the islands.
“All these different islands make up Polynesia and every island is different,” she said.
Featuring numerous South Pacific songs and dances, vendors and participants could be seen dancing along as they ventured through the outdoor amphitheater.
“I wanted to participate because it helps promote our culture; a lot of people don’t know where we’re from, because it’s just a small island,” said Samoan business owner, Loa Cheek, who drove from Columbia, S.C. “But we have pride in our culture and pride of where we grew up.”
Vendors included savory Hawaiian style barbecue, fruity drinks and snowcones, and sweet Hawaiian donuts. Different pop-up tents and booths sold decorative leis, hats, dresses, wraps, flowered hair accessories and other jewelry.
“It’s good to see the South Pacific come together, and just see the culture in the U.S. – especially on this side of the East Coast, because you don’t see a lot of it,” said Rosalina Macon. “It’s good representation for Polynesians and Micronesians to grow their businesses and show the culture.”
As a Samoan, Macon said the event also promoted more awareness by breaking stereotypes and showing how islanders, despite their cultural differences, can gather together for a common goal.
Local Hawaiian retailer, Sunday Boone, said she was thrilled about supporting the festival’s goal and was looking forward to next year.
“It’s good for Augusta to have something like this,” she said.
Selling handmade leis, Boone said the necklace adornment is typically used as a traditional greeting in Hawaii, but could also be used to congratulate someone or say goodbye.
“We use it for all different kinds of ceremonies and occasions, and I hope people get to know more about our beautiful culture,” she said. “We enjoy inviting people into our culture and sharing what we have with others.”
American Samoa visitors Junior Sione, from South Carolina, and Tony Leo, who drove from Virginia, said they came to the festival because it gave them a chance to reconnect with family and friends, while listening to South Pacific music.
“I wanted to mingle with other Pacific islanders,” said Sione. “I definitely think Samoans are being represented here today.”
Compared to the Polynesian Festival he usually attends in Virginia, Leo said Columbia County’s first South Pacific Festival was very different, because of its focus on inclusivity with music and performers, and the great turnout.
“It’s a big mix of the different islands in the South Pacific, and they are more represented here,” he said. “I’ve seen a whole bunch of different Pacific Islanders here.”
Festival goer and mother of two, Rachel Lewis, said she came to support her husband’s family, who was showcasing traditional Hawaiian hula dancing.
“I remember the first time my husband’s mom made me ramen noodles; obviously, everyone has different ways of making it, but it was the first time I had ever had it with spam and eggs,” she said. “It was delicious, and I actually ate it like that for a long time. Now I don’t eat them the same; I always have to add eggs, spam or something else in there.”
Exposed to a lot of different food like her mother-in-law’s, Lewis said she has been loving the event’s various flavors, and being surrounded by her family and other islanders.
“The festival is all about getting together with good food and good people,” she said. “Getting to know other cultures opens your eyes to more than what you’re used to, and I feel like it creates a better understanding of how different people live or their mannerisms.”
Lewis said the festival also allowed her children to meet some more of her husband’s family for the very first time.
“Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to visit Hawaii, so we have a lot of them visit here,” she said. “So him meeting some of them here was actually really cool.”
Dance performer, Alani Bule, a student from Grovetown Middle School, said her friends and family were excited to represent their Samoan culture, and show audiences a multitude of traditional dances, such as the Sasa.
“I think Samoans need to be known more, and I want to show them that we know how to really bring a performance,” she said.
Filippino attendee Rhoda Jimbo, who could be seen enthusiastically dancing to music, said she “dragged” her son and husband out to the festival, because she wanted her family to experience cultures she considers similar to their own. With a son that is sometimes hard to pull away from electronics, Jimbo said she was glad Augusta had many festivals throughout the year that gave her family a reason to enjoy the outdoors, friendly faces and “amazing” authentic food.
“We had the Hawaiian donuts, and they were really good,” she said. “America is very diverse and I think Polynesians bring delicious spices and other things from around the world that you can’t go wrong with. I’m excited for next year.”
Ending the day-long event, audience members sang “Aloha Oe” together, and prayed for happiness and unity, before happily dispersing to await next year’s festival.
