Pacific Islander Festival -- this weekend in SD -- 9/22-23

Just an FYI -- The 13th annual Pacific Islander Festival will be held in San Diego this weekend on September 22-23. The event is a free -- that's right, free -- and showcases the cultures and customs of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. It will be held at Mission Bay's Ski Beach. You can find more info about it here:

http://www.pifasandiego.com.

..and you can check out the Local Carving group "The SD Chop Chops" wacking away at some logs on-site also right in the cultural section...featuring a ton of local TC'ers! Stop in and say hi...

Event map and parking information

PACIFIC ISLANDER FESTIVAL HOURS
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2007
9:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2007
8:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.

Is there a fee for the festival?

There is no fee to enter the Pacific Islander Festival. We are a
volunteer based organization and a non-profit organization able to
share the Pacific Islander Festival to the City of San Diego at no cost.

Is there a fee for parking?
There will be a fee for parking in the west side parking lots just west
of Ski Beach near the Paradise Point Resort. The cost for parking in
these lots will be $10.00 per vehicle. No in and out privileges will be
allowed.

Is there a fee for the shuttle?

There is no fee for the shuttle. PIFA brings to the public three shuttle
locations. Please see parking shuttle info link for detailed directions.
· Sun Runner Parking Lot
· Quivira Basin Lot
· South Shores Lot

What is our theme for this year, 2006?
This year we are celebrating our 13th Annual Celebration, “Songs of
our Heritage.” We are proud to announce the graphic designer, who
created our logo for this year. Wiki Tiki was selected to work with
PIFA in developing the logo for our festival. We will be selling Tshirts
with our new logo at our Information Booth at the festival this
year. The Information Booth will be located just north of the festival
stage. We are very appreciative of Wiki Tiki’s services and donation
of their time in developing our logo for this year. We encourage all
of you to support Wiki Tiki at their craft booth at our festival.

What types of booths will you have at the festival?

At our festival this year, we are proud to welcome over 60 food, craft
and information booth vendors. We are proud to welcome the new
vendors who will be participating in our festival this year and we
appreciate the support of our PIFA Vendors who have participated in
our festival on an annual basis. We truly could not put on this
festival without all of you. We encourage you to support all our
vendors who will be participating at our festival this year.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2007
9:30 a.m. OPENING CEREMONY Introduction of PIFA President Rudy Tai
Traditional conch shell call
Islander Procession
Opening Prayer by Bobby Lerma
Presentation of colors by PANPAC
National Anthem by Palana'i Makerita Engle
Introduction of emcees John Monte & Maria Arcega-Dunn
10:00 a.m. Na Pua lLima O Kehaulani (Hawaii)
10:30 a.m. Uso Krew Trio and Friends
10:40 a.m. Tongan Youth of the San Diego Methodist Church
11:10 a.m. Miss PIFA and Court
11:20 a.m. Kutturan Chamoru of Long Beach (Guam)
12:00 p.m. Scholarships, Sponsors & Miss PIFA
12:30 p.m. LeiIsa (Tahiti)
1:10 p.m. Gary Suka (solo artist - Micronesia)
1:20 p.m. Motu Nehenehe (Polynesian review)
2:00 p.m. Solo Artist TBA
2:10 p.m. Kaleo Onalani (Hawaii)
2:50 p.m. Ben Benavente & da Chelu boyz
3:00 p.m. Samoan Community Council Dancers of San Diego
3:40 p.m. Closing Message

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2007
8:00 a.m. PRAISE & WORSHIP Island Style
Opening Prayer: Benson Mauga (SAHC)
8:05 a.m. Samoan Athletes Heart of Champions
8:15 a.m. Imahen Taotao Tano of San Diego
8:25 a.m. Ka Ohana HoOnani - Saddleback Hula Ministry
8:55 a.m. Message Mel Zamora "Rock" Prison Ministry
9:25 a.m. Invitation/closing KaOhana HoOnani
9:30 a.m. WELCOME GREETING by PIFA Vice-President, Brian Cruz
Traditional conch shell call
Pledge of Allegiance Greg Perez III
National Anthem by Maka Ahokava Tafoki
Introduction of emcee John Monte
10:00 a.m. Imahhen Tao Tao Tano of San Diego (Guam)
10:30 a.m. Uso Krew Trio and friends
10:40 a.m. He Nani O Polynesia (New Zealand)
11:10 a.m. Miss PIFA and Court
11:20 a.m. Manaleo music of Hawaii
12:00 p.m. Introduction of PIFA Board and Sponsors
12:30 p.m. Samoan Community Council Dancers of San Diego
1:10 p.m. Gary Suka (solo artist - Micronesia)
1:20 p.m. Na Pua I Lima O Kehaulani (Tahiti)
1:50 p.m. Ben Benavente & da Chelu boyz
2:00 p.m. Heali’i"s Polynesian Review
2:40 p.m. Closing Remarks by PIFA President Rudy Tai