PIFA is a celebration of the culture of the indigenous people of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia that is hosted by the Pacific Islander Festival Association. This is the 25th annual gathering, the historic event has been heavily advertised, which is reflected by the crowd it drew.
There are advantages living close to Mission Bay, we can easily get to any of the events hosted there.
After my volunteer time with Coastal Cleanup I headed home for a shower and we were on our bikes heading to Ski Beach.
Bikes were hands down the best way to get here. Traffic was very heavy as we cruised passed the folks looking for parking.
But with my morning spent a South Shores we did not arrive till past noon and hungry!
It was a warm day and guests crowded into what shade was available. All the folks standing past the tree are in the food lines.
There is a short line for the spam musubi, which I take advantage of to quiet our growling stomachs. Sticky rice and fried spam wrapped in nori – it’s really pretty good.
With some culinary satisfaction we wandered a bit to check out options for a meal to share, while people were watching and checking out the stage.
Lots of choices for food, not surprising since there are so many island nations represented, including Hawaii.
We decide to split a combo plate of Kahlua pork, BBQ chicken and short ribs, with rice and macaroni salad.
Like spam, macaroni salad is a staple at every meal. What’s with that?
We share our dinner while watching more performances.
.
We’re sitting next to a couple pretty gals with coconut bras, I snap their picture as they work their way to the stage.
This long line is for Hawaiian Shave Ice, not to be confused with shaved ice. Generous portions on a hot day, almost worth the brain freeze that is sure to follow.
With an intermission on the main stage, we take time to check out the vendor booths.
I have to wonder what Hawaii smells like. Volcanic ash?, Low tide?, nope – papaya, mango, orchid, plumeria, etc.
With the talking heads still on the main stage for the 25th PIFA, we decide (I decide) enough. I’m just getting too old/sunburned to be doing two things in one day! But it was a great day!
And the Adams Avenue Street Fair is also this weekend … time for a nap!
Another fun festival.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly is! It's nice to give the lesser known islands a chance to strut their traditions.
DeleteSure sounds like a fun day lotsa interesting food, fried spam is a staple? Hmm.
ReplyDeleteA surprising number of island dishes include spam. It is a fun gathering with bright colors, exotic food and entertainment.
DeleteNot stop activities always in your area. We found bikes are the only way to get around. We rarely took the car out when spending the month in Mission Bay. Besides avoiding traffic, it was great exercise. Looks like you didn't go home hungry.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right Bikes and the Bay just go together. And altho we arrived hungry, we certainly did not leave hungry!
DeleteYep, looks like fun but after having eaten my fair share of spam as a kid the spam musubi would not be for me...
ReplyDeleteThe island festival is fun, even without the spam. Fran doesn't much care fr it either.
Delete