Record Attendance at the 2008 Hawaiʻi Potluck Picnic in Central Park
The Annual Hawaiʻi Potluck Picnic in Central Park at Summit Rock may go down this year as one of the most successful and well attended. On Sunday, June 1st, the weather and setting were picture perfect for sharing grinds and kanikapila.
In addition to the participation of our New York ʻohana of Hawaiian expats, tri-state locals, musicians, singers and dancers, we were also treated to performances by some extra special guests who dropped by just hours after their amazing show at Carnegie Hall on Saturday night. Some of the talent who graced our humble stage in the park were Nina Kealiʻiwahamana, Hokulani and Larry DeRego and Hālau Hula O Hokulani, George Keoki Matsushita, Harry B. Soria, Danny Akaka, Jr., Kalei Bridges, Kimo Artis and Clarence Kiyoshi Hirakawa and members of the Japanese International ʻUkulele Club. Keikis also stole the show both on and off stage this year!
Tony award nominee Loretta Ables Sayre, actress and singer from Hawaii who is currently appearing in South Pacific at Lincoln Center best summed up the spirit of the event when she took the mic and thanked our New York community for having the picnic because it helped her overcome some of her homesickness for Hawaiʻi.
