Aloha! For those of you who aren’t familiar with Hawaiian vernacular, that means hello. Hawaii is known for its good vibes and laid-back attitude, and those who leave it never lose the culture.
“I am from Hawaii, and when I came (to Cal Poly) I wanted to keep up with my traditions and way of life,” Jonathan Yuen said.
Yuen, an electrical engineering junior, hails from Aiea, Hawaii.
“My roommates and I are from Hawaii and we missed the local food and culture, so we decided to form a club and share our customs with Cal Poly,” Yuen said.
The Hawai’i Club was created at the beginning of this quarter, and with some hard work and good vibes, Yuen and his roommates hope it will continue long after they graduate.
“It’s a good way to meet people, not only those who are from or lived in Hawaii, but others that are interested in what we have to offer,” Yuen said.
Jessica Goto, a recreation administration junior, found the club on Facebook and was interested in joining.
“I love their culture and the food, so I decided to join,” Goto said.
Hawaiian food is a fusion of many different Asian cultures since the state consists of an eclectic group of immigrants. Hawaiians eat Spam, a canned meat product, on a regular basis, which many people find strange. Because Hawaiians eat Spam more than any other state, Hormel Foods Corporation released a special “Hawaii” can in 2003.
“A lot of the Japanese and Chinese immigrants in Hawaii ate Spam during the plantation days and packed it into their lunches. It also got another boost in Hawaii during World War II,” Yuen said.
Goto’s favorite Spam meal is Spam and Musuvi, which is nori seaweed wrapped around Spam and rice with soy sauce.
Biology student Anthony Baniaga joined the club because he loves the Hawaiian spirit, and his roommate is from Hawaii.
“Everyone I’ve met from Hawaii is so awesome, and they have such a chill vibe; it was just something I really wanted to be a part of,” Baniaga said.
The Hawai’i Club members meet from 8 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays and discuss different aspects of Hawaiian culture. Their meetings include music, presentations and recipes, and attendees can learn a lot about Hawaii from those who have lived there and experienced it themselves.
There is no membership fee to be a part of the Hawai’i Club; all you need is an interest in Hawaiian culture.
“There isn’t a set agenda for the meetings. Mostly the officers come up with the different topics for each week, or members request certain topics for us to research and talk about,” Yuen said.
“We want to get the word out that we are here, and we want to make the club sustainable, as well as doing community service with a Hawaiian vibe,” Goto said.
The club’s goal is to get students interested in the club and to have a luau every year to celebrate Hawaiian traditions.
“There is a friendly welcoming vibe, and (the club doesn’t) judge you if you’re not from Hawaii. Plus, you don’t have to wear a shirt,” Baniaga said.