LiC: Hawaiian Language Pa'ina (Get Together)

Every semester the Hawaiian Language Department chooses a Friday and throws a pot-luck in order to get all of the students of Hawaiian Language to come together and 'olelo Hawai'i. What results - a giant amount of food is brought together and consumed, plenty of chanting, hula and music, tug-of-war, volleyball, and people walking off the bus to sneak a bite of food. It might raise some eyes, but no one says much about it. The event is one of the biggest concentrations of Hawaiian speakers every year, and that's what you'll mostly hear - students are encouraged to speak Hawaiian no matter the level, and teachers talk with staff and friends exclusively in Hawaiian. It's a cultural event to bring together Hawaiian speakers young and old, and that's exactly what it does. It's an incredible sight to see a group of people brought together by one desire - to learn the Hawaiian language (some are only there to get their second language requirement) but it has a way changing all previous thoughts on the matter and making you feel accepted, and more importantly making you want to continue learning the language.