The popular International Extravaganza is held every spring semester at Chaminade University and is considered a tradition here. For many students this can be a eye opener and a great way to learn more about different cultures that aren’t as prominent on the mainland depending on where the student is from.
International Extravaganza happened on Friday, April 12 at 7 p.m. at the Sullivan Family Library Lawn on campus. In typical Chaminade tradition there was plenty of food for everyone. Many arrive before 6 p.m. to get some Hawaiian food from Highway Inn, while also scouting the best seat for the performance.
Once the festivities started Hawaiian Club, Lumana’i O Samoa Club, Taotao Mariana Club, and the Filipino Club performed beautiful dances. Every group provides such cultural enrichment for every person in the audience.
Yuito Asai is a freshman majoring in Sports and Event Management and experienced his first International Extravaganza this past Friday. Asai was born in Tokyo and was raised in Overland Park, Kansas. He originally just came to Extravaganza for the free food. However, after watching the first few clubs perform, he stayed to enjoy the rest of the performances.
“My favorite part was Filipino Club, which involved dancing with the sticks,” said Asai. “I thought it was really unique, and I would encourage others to go next year.”
In previous years, Extravaganza has had more groups perform. Chaminade University only had four cultural groups perform this year.
Jessica Laird is a second-year student from Chicago. Laird is a study abroad student from the University of Dayton Ohio. She is studying Sport Management and this was her first time experiencing International Extravaganza.
“My favorite parts were when each culture would drag the crowd in to come dance with them,” said Laird. “My friends and I wished we would have joined one of the clubs at the beginning of the semester to learn all the dances, so when we got asked to go and join them it was so much fun. International Extravaganza was my favorite event on campus so far.”
Taotao Mariana Club incorporated the audience by bringing people out to the lawn to join in the dance. They had Easton DelaCruz, a second year student, play guitar and sing while the other members danced, which was different than every other group. Typically the groups just have a musical recording that plays.
Angeline Groux is a freshman from Salem, Oregon and is majoring in Criminal Justice and Criminology. Groux attended Pacific Island Review in October 2023, and found it very interesting. PIR holds a special place in her heart due to it being the first big cultural event she attended here at Chaminade University.
“I liked that International Extravaganza wasn’t just focused on one cultural group and it was a mixture,” said Groux. “The most shocking thing to see was how passionate all of the performers were. The performers were really into their parts, and you could tell none of them were doing it halfway.”