3 minute read | By: Dustin Khong
Featured Image Credit: Pacific Island Knowledge to Action Resources
“Together these events offer an opportunity for people to come together to honor and celebrate Utah’s diverse Pacific Islander traditions and cultures.”
Utah Offers Displays of Pacific Pride
Since 2012, Utah has recognized August as Pacific Island Heritage Month, as designated by Gov. Spencer J. Cox and his predecessor, Gov. Gary R. Herbert.
Utah’s Pacific Islander community plans events throughout the month to recognize cultural traditions. The month also celebrates the community’s contributions to building the state, including the 19th-century town of Iosepa that drew native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander settlers to Tooele County’s Skull Valley.
One of the month’s prominent celebrations is the Utah Pacific Islander Heritage Kick-off Event, where traditional music provides the soundtrack for dance performances from Hawaii, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Micronesian cultures, and more!
Other activities during the month include cultural displays, storytelling sessions, and guest speakers. Together these events offer an opportunity for people to come together to honor and celebrate Utah’s diverse Pacific Islander traditions and cultures.
The Pacific Islander community keeps festivities alive into the fall with annual events such as Utah Polynesian Days, which includes traditional dance performances.
Visit this link to learn more about this year’s lineup of events and activities!
HOME IS HERE
More festivals and celebrations may be added as part of Magnify Utah’s dynamic resource building.