Get Rootsie, Get Down, With the Imu Underground
Written by Amber Manini
As many of us are already familiar with, going to college costs a lot of money. For many of us college students learning to finance our way through schooling is the hardest if not the toughest part of achieving a higher education. As students, fun takes on a new name when we find the fun in playing cards with a group of friends or going to a group study session on our free time. For some of us lucky enough to have a job while going to school we find the fun in our workplace. Having fun we learn does not necessarily require money but it requires a little extra time, laughter and a good group of friends.
Here at UH Hilo, most students find their niche easily in a smaller student body. As Sophomores or sometimes freshman we begin exploring different opportunities on campus by joining campus clubs and programs. Most of these clubs and programs are free to students and because of this we eventually become active members in our school organizations.
Keaomālamalama, UH Hiloʻs Hawaiian club, is just one of sixty eight clubs and organizations a part of UH Hiloʻs Registered Independent Student Organizations commonly known as RISO. Making Keaomālamalama unique is the fact that members were never asked to pay club dues. Aside from camping trips, Hawaiian club members do not pay anything to participate in club activities. The club, relies heavily on fundraisers for the support of their club activities and events. As the co-presidents explain, their activities and events are usually low-budget which allows the club to not spend as much money.
With hashtags on their Instagram such as “ola” and “get rootsie” Hawaiian Club and it’s board members help to bring alive the Hawaiian culture to all students by allowing them to take part in cultural related activities. Various activities such as making kukui nut candles and making lauhala bracelets have allowed the active Hawaiian club members to learn more about the Hawaiian culture through hands on experiences. It is no surprise that their fundraiser is also another hands on experience.
Every year, Keaomālamalama takes part in hosting an event called Imu Night. As one of the clubs annual events, Imu night started out as simply an activity for the club. As more people became interested in using the imu, a traditional Hawaiian underground oven, the idea of a fundraising event came into place.
Vice President of Keaomālamalama, Kai ‘anui Andaya, a fourth year student here at UH Hilo takes part in his second year hosting Imu Night as a fundraiser. “I remember going to other Imu night events, but this would be our second year as board members running an “Imu Night” fundraiser. We got the idea from a friend Aleysia Kaha a UHH alumni and former Ag Club president, the ag club would put on this fundraiser at the ag farm,” said Andaya.
This years Imu Night will be held this Friday, November 21, 2014 and will end on Saturday, November 22. Co-presidents, Ku‘upuamae‘ole Kiyuna and Malu Dudoit, both fourth year students here at UH Hilo explain the process of Imu night.
“For our Imu Night fundraiser for the past two years, we’ve sold $15 tickets for 25-30 spots in the imu. For $15, you will be able to reserve your spot for one pan not exceeding the regular turkey size pans. In your pan, we tell customers they can fill it with whatever they want such as pork, turkey, ‘uala (sweet potato), rice pudding, laulau, etc. People who usually buy tickets say this is a convenience for them because they don’t have to worry about cooking during Thanksgiving and worry about cleaning up a big mess in the kitchen later. Imu Night has been a successful event and a beneficial fundraiser for our club and community members,” said Dudoit.
“Imu Night is a great fundraiser because we are able to make a 100% profit. Also because we are not necessarily preparing any of the food and are just cooking it in the imu, there is a lot of stress taken off the club and we can focus our attention on gathering the supplies for the imu and planning out the event itself. Imu Night serves as a bonding time for a lot of our club members and this is really when we are able to get to know each other. Every year we notice that we have a number of club members that have never gotten the chance to participate in making an imu before, so we share that experience which boosts club morale and also helps us establish ourselves and make better connections with one another,” said Kiyuna.
Imu night is open to both UH Hilo and Hawaii Community College students. Join Hawaiian club and throw in a turkey for thanksgiving while helping to support students in learning more about the Hawaiian culture through hands on activities. As we all know financing our way through college and finding extra spending time for leisure activities can be tough. However, fundraisers like Imu night help students to take part in leisure activities for free. Allowing students to learn from the fundraising event through a business and cultural experience. As Andaya said, “I feel that when students realized how much preparation, time, and energy it takes for the imu they will be like "woah! our kupuna had plenty of work just to eat, and make a meal.”
Grab a turkey or any meat you have lying around in the fridge, season it and stuff it in a pan. Take it down to Kipuka courtyard on Friday, November 21 and be ready for very ono imu food on Saturday, November 22.
For more details on Imu night and how to get your $15 spot. Please contact Malu Dudoit at dudoit@hawaii.edu or Kacie at kkck@hawaii.edu. For more information on Hawaiian club and upcoming events follow them on Instagram at keaomalamalama.
