Luau

Our ward hosted a tri-ward Luau this weekend. Somehow (still not really sure how it happened) I ended up heading up the decoration committee with another girl in our ward. Our primary hosted an activity the week before the luau. We had the kids make tissue-paper flowers for decorations and learn the Hukilau to perform at the luau. We invited the other wards to participate also. It ended up being a great primary activity with a good turn-out.

A lot of this last week has been consumed by preparing for the actual event. The RS sisters were also learning a dance, but because of soccer, I couldn't make any of the rehearsals. My friend was kind enough to take an hour late on Tuesday evening to teach me. Then we rehearsed again on Friday evening. I spent time running around buying some of the decor we couldn't get online and making MORE tissue paper flowers.

Friday morning, five of us went to the church to get the curtains hung on the stage and to string up the flowers, so they hung across the cultral hall. It looked awesome. That night, after rehearsing the dance again, my friend and I made a nighttime foray to cut greenery for the tables. I came back Saturday morning (along with the youth and some of the priesthood). We set up tables and chairs for over 300 (we had 350 RSVPs) and to help direct the decorations. I had to leave at 11 to get the big girls to their soccer games. We got home and I had enough time to shower, get ready, slice up a watermelon and get the girls ready before we left again.

The good part is that because I was involved in the prep, I didn't have much to do during the actual activity. Also, because Jim stayed home sick and kept Rachel, I could relax and enjoy the activity. The food was amazing! We ended up with over 400 people there at one point. It was standing room only. Everyone was dressed up. The hall looked AWESOME. The primary kids did a great job on the Hukilau and the YM were awesome doing the Haka Maori Warrior dance. I had a blast doing Hawaiian Hula Eyes with the RS. Then we had a surprise dance number: the missionaries did their own version of the Haka...too funny!

The last part of the entertainment was a professional group of polynesian dancers. Some of the group is in our ward, so we recognized a few of them. They were amazing. Lizzie was totally mesmerized and Mimi had a blast dancing along with the Tahitian drums. I had already been planning on having the girls do hula lessons sometime this year, but Lizzie was totally on board after watching the professionals!

It was a really fun evening. I was kind of sad to see all of our hard work and effort come down in about 15 minutes, but that's the way it goes. Our ward has tenatively decided to do this every other year. I'm grateful for a break, but already looking forward to next year!