Academics
Real Stories
Whittier Island Nation
- NAME:
- Stacey Doran (Class of 2006)
- HOMETOWN:
- Waipahy, Hawaii
- INVOLVEMENT AT WHITTIER :
Hawai’ian Islanders Club, Asian Students Association, Women's Basketball, Women's Volleyball, Track and Field, Inter-Residence Hall Association, Student Athlete Advisory Committee
Recognizing Whittier's longstanding, strong ties with the Pacific Islands - several Hawai'ian students attend Whittier and the islands are homebase for one of the College’s largest alumni chapters - a number of themed events have sprung up and become campus tradition over the years. One such event is the Spring Lu'au, sponsored by the Hawai’ian Islanders Club (HIC) and designed as a cultural celebration. The other is Mona Kai, a popular, social dance - typically following the Lu'au - hosted by the Lancer Society.
"Each spring in preparation for both events, about 40 tons of sand is trucked in and laid in under a huge tent. The Lu’au is first up, so students and family gather on the 'beach' to relax, watch the performance, and taste authentic Hawai'ian food," recounts Stacy Doran, current HIC co-advisor and a past Lu'au performer. "Wearing traditional costumes and flower leis just flown in from Hawai'i, dancers take the stage and perform different native dances and hulas. It's a great event, and the people who attend are there to really experience and learn about the Hawaiian culture through music and dance."
As the Lu'au concludes, Mona Kai is quickly set up by the Lancers, so that guests from one event most often marathon through the second.
"Mona Kai is the best. I mean, how often are you able to dance in the sand with your friends, never having left campus? All year long, students look forward to participating in these two events, and they are always the highlight of spring semester."
