A freezing rain and snow mix didn’t deter friends of the Duchesne Arts Council from coming to an evening of Polynesian cooking and entertainment.

Guests were presented with a lei when they entered the Duchesne High School commons, and later enjoyed a Hawaiian kalua pork dinner and an evening of entertainment.

Part of the annual events calendar for the Duchesne Arts Council, the evening included an evening concert by the Utah Valley University Polynesian Legacy Dance Company. The dance company serves a three-fold mission, support education, promote cultural diversity, and build partnerships within the community according to their website.

“The event is for the benefit of the arts, that’s one of the missions of the arts council is to promote the arts,” director of the Duchsene Arts Council Carol Stevens said.

In addition to the meal and dance concert, the arts council also sponsored a silent auction to benefit the David Whitehead family who lost their home in a recent fire.

After the luau portion of the evening, guests moved to the auditorium for a preshow and the dance concert.

Local second grade students performed to “Mele Kalikimaka,” and the history of the coconut was told in story.

Then the music played and the Legacy Dance Company began a tour of the Polynesian Islands through dance. First stop was Hawaii, followed by cultural visits to other Polynesian Islands.

Audience participation was part of the concert plan and guests were called up to learn the hula dance “Pearly Shells.” A mixture of young ladies and gentlemen helped make the dancing memorable.

Just when everyone thought it was safe to relax, the men were called up on the stage to learn the Haka, a Maori war dance from New Zealand. Complete with chest beating and making fierce faces, a group of volunteers helped entertain the crowd.

When the dancing was over, so was the temporary warm escape from the reality of winter weather.

Congratulations to the Duchesne Arts Council for a great evening of art in the Basin.

Watch for other events sponsored by the arts council, such as, the BYU International Folk Dance Ensemble on May 10 and the third annual Duchesne Celebrates America July 4th Concert.

Funds for the Hawaiian Luau event came from multiple partners, including donations received from the Enchanted Forest, Duchesne City, and the Utah Arts Council.