The Annual Utah Pacific Island Heritage Month festivities will kick off on the evening of July 31, 2021, with a return to an in-person, live event at the Pacific Heritage Academy, which represents a change from prior announcements.
Salt Lake City is opening a new park this summer where the event was planned. The city alerted organizers that the venue would hold the anticipated crowd so the event has been moved to Pacific Heritage Academy at 1755 West 1100 North Street in Salt Lake City.
“The excitement for this annual event has never been higher,” said organizer Susi Feltch-Malohifo’ou, Pacific Island Knowledge 2 Action Resources executive director. “We are grateful that vaccinations allow us to return to an in-person event.”
Feltch-Malohifo’ou was recognized earlier this month by Forbes as one of the world’s 50 women over 50 having impact. She was recognized for her work on “cultural preservation, economic impact and wellbeing for Pacific Islanders,” especially during the pandemic.
A series of events throughout August, extending into early September, will celebrate Pacific Island culture in Utah. The events are open to the public and everyone is invited. Visit www.upihm.com for updates and schedules.
The kickoff event on July 31, 2021, runs from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM and will include food for sale, cultural booths, young entrepreneurs selling their products and live entertainment. Organizers are still accepting vendor and sponsor applications.
The month-long celebration of Utah’s diverse culture comes at a time of peak anti-Asian American and Pacific Islander hate crimes. The events provide an opportunity for Utahns to seek diversity and inclusion by making new acquaintances and experiencing new cultural experiences.
About Pacific Island Knowledge 2 Action Resources (PIK2AR)
PIK2AR is an ecosystem of programs and events, a community nonprofit that is celebrating 5 years of servicing the community. The Empowered Living Program includes KAVA Talks, a male group and the EmpowERment Groups have been forwarding the anti-violence work in the Salt Lake area, Utah County, in Southern Utah and now globally online, serving victims of crimes with direct services and referrals. The PEAU and Pacific Island Film Series was joined this year by the Literary Group with a weekly women’s writing group and a monthly Book Club that reads Pacific Island authors, and the annual Utah Pacific Island Heritage Month celebrates nine years! To learn more, visit www.upihm.com.
