Lei Day parade kicks off month of Asian American Pacific Islander heritage celebrations
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Celebrate and share in the Aloha spirit with the sights and sounds of the islands at the third annual Lei Day parade. The parade celebrates the rich history and culture of the Hawaiian and Pacific Islands during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
“It’s wonderful. We get to come out and show the people what Hawaii is truly about,” said hula teacher Kanani Cadaoas, whom her students know her as Kuma Kanan – ‘Kuma’ meaning teacher. “Hawaii is the melting pot and Las Vegas is part of that huge melting pot.”
The festive parade will include performances such as Ancient Hula Kahiko, the ancient form of Hawaiian hula accompanied by a chanter telling the story, the free-flowing modern style of Hula Auana, the loud and proud body motions of Māori Haka, the rapid hip-shaking movements of the Tahitian Dances and more.
“In most cultures, our dancing is very important. It tells a story of where we are from and it talks about the elements and it describes our ancient and our modern styles of dancing. We’d like everyone to come out an watch and see all the different dances and dance styles,” Cadaoas said.
The Lei Day Parade will take place on Wednesday, May 1 at 6 p.m. along Park Centre Drive in Downtown Summerlin.
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