1. JULY 2015 ALASKA BEYOND MAGAZINE 21
KOLOA, HI
A Living Legacy
The last sugar plantation on Kaua‘i
closed in 2009, but many traditions
founded on plantations live on.
Now celebrating its 30th year, Kōloa
Plantation Days (July 17–26) honors
Hawai‘i’s melting pot of cultural
customs, created by the various ethnic
groups brought together for sugar-
cane agriculture. This year’s theme is
“The Legacy Lives On.”
This family-friendly festival has
options for all ages, including Talk
Story events, in which stories of
TOP,JOHNSALANGSANG;BOTTOM,COURTESY:KŌLOAPLANTATIONDAYS
More summer competitions …
July 11–Aug. 1;
skate-sport summer nationals; Albuquerque Convention Center,
Albuquerque, NM; teamusa.org/USA-Roller-Sports.
July 26–31; aerobic-
gymnastics and sportaerobics events; Harrah’s Resort Southern
California Events Center, San Diego, CA; sportaerobics-nac.com.
Aug. 1; traditional outrigger canoe races with 7,000
paddlers and fans expected; Hilo Bay, Hilo, HI; hcrapaddler.com.
Calling all lovers of hip-hop and other street-dance styles. The
14th-annual (August 2–9)
will put style and skill on display, as 3,500 dancers representing
50 countries face off in San Diego. Harrah’s Resort Southern
California Events Center will host the early rounds, leading up to
the championship finals at Viejas Arena at San Diego State
University on August 9. Awards will include $25,000 in cash and
prizes, plus gold, silver and bronze medals in junior, varsity, adult
crew (5–8 dancers) and megacrew (15–45 dancers) divisions. In
addition to the main choreographed competitions, the World
Battles event on August 8 will feature one-on-one and two-on-two
competitions in different styles. To learn more, call 323-850-3777
or visit hiphopinternational.com. —Erin Wong
plantation life are shared; the 16th-
annual Plantation Days Rodeo; and the
Historic Parade and Park Celebration.
This year’s festival also includes a
“Share the Memories” campaign that
will encourage people attending the
event to post photos for prizes using
the hashtag #mykoloaplantationdays.
Photos can be viewed on Facebook,
Twitter and Instagram.
To learn more, call 808-652-3217 or
visit koloaplantationdays.com.
—Aliza Vaccher
Dancers perform in the megacrew division at the
2014 World Hip Hop Dance Championship.
Pageant winners wave to parade guests at a
past year’s Kōloa Plantation Days.
JOURNAL