Photo By Sgt. Alexander Mitchell | The Siva A Manu Polynesian Dance School invites the public to dance with the...... read more read more
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JACKSONVILLE, N.C. - Dancing, live music, flavorful food and smiling children filled the open field of Onslow Pines Park for the 2nd Annual North Carolina Polynesian Festival, July 24-25, Jacksonville, North Carolina.
Marines, sailors and family of military members volunteered and attended the festival, which included an introduction to the many islands that make up the Polynesian area and showcased the culture and heritage of each.
Onslow County plans to hold the festival annually, during the third Friday and Saturday of July. It is a free event and all are welcome to enjoy the dance performances, sample traditional Polynesian dishes and check out the local vendors.
“These Polynesian festivals help us come together, and meet up again with our relatives and friends that we have not seen in a long time, and make new friends,” said Tavita Saelua, a Master Chief in the Navy, who volunteers as one of the committee leaders that organizes and runs the festival each year. “This matters because a lot of our upbringing revolves around family.”
The festival started as a way for Polynesian people in the community to come together and enjoy a piece of home, while away from the islands. Many service members are not able to visit their homeland every year and this event provides them the opportunity to embrace their culture and heritage with food, song and dance, while staying in the country.
“It’s very important for me to be here personally because it helps me share my culture and heritage,” said Angelita Kisena, a Lieutenant in the Navy, and the choreographer and team leader for the group Pineapple Express. “My background is Samoan and the military is very diverse and we expressed ourselves through dancing and sharing some knowledge of our homelands. It is a good feeling knowing that a non-Polynesian wants to know about us and our heritage.”
For someone who has never been to the islands or does not know about the culture of the Polynesian areas, the Polynesian Festival can provide a great time for anyone to see and take part in ceremonial dances honoring love and family, and traditional dishes of Polynesia that include chicken, pork, bananas and various fruits. The free festival allows both parents and children to take away fun experiences and enjoy a new culture.
“My favorite part is when I see the little kids go up there just smiling and dancing with the older kids and performers,” Saelua said. “It doesn’t matter if they are not the same as everyone else, but them doing their best and dancing with the others is a good sight. It’s every parent’s joy to see their kids get up in front of everybody and do something they enjoy.”
Kisena also noticed the enjoyment of people while at the Polynesian Festival and hopes this becomes a wonderful tradition to maintain and offer to the community.
“Looking around at people’s smiling faces that have never heard of Polynesian culture or dances and seeing them enjoying the time they are having is a wonderful feeling,” Kisena said. “Plus, the food is great and everyone enjoys it.”
| Date Taken: | 07.25.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 07.29.2015 09:36 |
| Story ID: | 171404 |
| Location: | JACKSONVILLE, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 197 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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