Get ready to be immersed in a kaleidoscope of flavors, rhythms and traditions as the North Dakota Polynesian Cultural Club presents the first Pacific Island, Asian, Arts and Culture Fest on May 18. From 3 p.m. onwards, the Lord of Life Lutheran Church will pulse with the vibrant energy of Pacific, Asian and Indian cultures.

Participants will be able to sample the tantalizing flavors of Kalua pig, an underground cooked pulled pork from Hawaii; pancit, Filipino rice stir fry noodles; and pani popo, Samoan coconut dessert rolls. Samples will be provided so attendees can explore the different tastes and delicacies from each culture. There will also be speakers from Sacred Pipe Resource Center and Bismarck Global Neighbors, an immigrant support organization.

PAC Fest will also include performances from the Bismarck YMCA Bellydancers and other groups. Deijae Lam Yuen, the lead organizer of ND Polynesian Cultural Club, said between each speaker and performance, there will be interactive opportunities for the community to learn about various Asian American and Pacific Islander cultures.

“Like with food, if there’s going to be a dish out there that comes from Samoa, we’re going to explain what it is,” said Lam Yuen. “Or just to educate others on what to expect when they’re traveling.”

Since its founding a year ago, the organization has been striving “to preserve our Pacific Island culture through our history, clothing, music and food.” Last year, the ND Polynesian Cultural Club hosted an AAPI Social, where 20 people came out to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. PAC Fest will be the fifth event that the club has held in the past year.

Lam Yuen, who is Samoan, noticed that while there were other celebrations for Indigenous and Scandinavian communities, like Norsk Høstfest, he didn’t see as many activities for Asian and Pacific Islanders in North Dakota. “I sat down and thought to myself, there’s nothing out here for Pacific Islanders,” said Lam Yuen. “So that’s when I decided to do a get-together.“

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 1,000 Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders made up 0.1% of North Dakota’s population in 2020. The Bismarck Mandan Chamber reported that the population in the Bismarck-Mandan area includes 0.85% Asians and 0.35% Pacific Islanders as of 2023.

May marks Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, initially established as Asian Pacific Heritage Week in 1977 and later expanded to a month-long observance in 1992 by President George H.W. Bush. President Barack Obama signed Proclamation 8369 in 2009, changing the name to Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Proclamation 8369 acknowledges the challenges and achievements of AAPI throughout history.

“Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have endured and overcome hardship and heartache,” wrote Obama in the proclamation. “In the earliest years, tens of thousands of Gold Rush pioneers, coal miners, transcontinental railroad builders, and farm and orchard laborers, were subject to unjust working conditions, prejudice, and discrimination—yet they excelled.

Even in the darkness of the Exclusion Act and Japanese internment, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have persevered, providing for their families and creating opportunities for their children.”

Lam Yuen said celebrating AAPI Heritage Month is necessary because it honors and learns from Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi communities in the United States. Hosting PAC Fest is one way Lam Yuen contributes to this month.

“It’s kind of like advocacy, showing and educating people about our culture and our history and language and why it’s important for us to be a part of the community,” he said.