When I walked through the gates and entered the PIFA festival, I automatically felt at home. Even though home for me is in Oxnard, California, I felt as if I'm with my family again. I was surrounded by positive vibes, great people, and the smell of food that reminded me of home. The Pacific Islander Festival Association holds a Pacific Islander Festival (PIFA) at Ski Beach in San Diego every single fall. This year it was held the weekend of September 24 and 25. Since coming to SDSU for school in the fall of 2013, I have attended every single year. If you haven't had the chance to make it out to the PIFA festival, here are five reasons why you should.
1. The Culture.
The purpose of the PIFA festival is to celebrate all of the pacific island cultures. According to the PIFA website, the official mission statement of the PIFA festival states that the PIFA festival's goal is, "To actively participate in the promotion and the perpetuation of the traditional cultures, ancient historical date, languages, attitudes and values of the indigenous people of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia." As a proud Chamorra (woman of Guamanian descent), I attend the PIFA festival because I am proud of my culture. Every time I go to the PIFA festival, the love for my culture and my people exudes off my being. I always bring my friends and show them who I am and where I come from.
2. The people.
No matter who you are or where you come from, you'll enter as a stranger but you'll leave as family. Everyone is welcome at the PIFA festival. The PIFA festival is not only for people to celebrate their own heritage and culture, it serves as a safe space for all to learn about the Pacific Islander community. Everyone is nice and accepting. It doesn't matter if you're related to them or if you just met them, when you're with us, you're family.
3. The food.
The food at the PIFA festival is absolutely amazing! Each restaurant represents an island. For me, I think that Chamorro food is the best, also I'm biased because that is the food that my family makes. You can buy anything from chicken kelaguen, to pancit, to banana doughnuts. If you haven't tried island food, then you haven't been eating the right food.
4. The performances.
The performances are the best part of the PIFA festival! Each island is represented through dance and song. As an outsider looking in, it just looks like your standard festival entertainment but to the performers, it's more than that. Each performer is protecting their culture. They're showcasing the traditions and stories of their islands. It's truly a beautiful thing to watch.
5. The merchandise.
If you love the island culture or you're from a particular island, the PIFA festival is the place to get all of your island merchandise! They have everything from hats, socks, jewelry, native snacks, stickers, even life-size Latte stones and other indigenous tools.
