In Hawai‘i, tradition and history aren’t just remembered — they’re lived. Lu‘aus bring people together through music, hula dancing and a feast of flavors like kalua pig and haupia. Spam musubi — a grilled, teriyaki-glazed Spam atop a block of rice, wrapped in crisp nori — is a relished snack. The rhythmic pulse of pahu drums echoes through hula performances and sacred ceremonies, their deep tones carrying the stories of generations. With each movement of hula, hands and bodies speak a language of their own, preserving and sharing the spirit of Hawai‘i.
For Tufts students with roots in Hawai‘i, no matter how far they roam, the islands’ traditions, stories and flavors remain an enduring part of their lives, calling them home across thousands of miles.
Zalina Medeiros, a senior from Oahu, Hawai’i, wanted to share this connection with her home.
“I grew up in Hawai‘i. I’m very local,” Medeiros said. “I participated in Hawaiian programs, like Hawaiian immersion programs, where you learn … about Hawaiian culture while doing community service. I was like, ‘This is something I had wanted to do at Tufts.’”
That dream became a reality when Medeiros met fellow senior Kristen Ching from Oahu when they were assigned to lead a Tufts Wilderness Orientation trip for first-years together. The two bonded over their love for Hawaiian traditions and a shared vision of building a community where students could connect, celebrate and explore their heritage at Tufts. In the fall, they co-founded the Tufts Hawai‘i Club and held their first official general interest meeting at the beginning of this semester.
“I wanted a space where we could all come together and get to know one another, and also celebrate our culture,” Ching explained.
While this is not the first attempt at a club surrounding Hawaiian culture at Tufts, the former organization was disbanded. Ching and Medeiros hope to have created a Hawai‘i club that will last.
The new club was met with immediate enthusiasm. Ku‘ulei Luke Kalani, a first-year from Oahu, was excited to contribute to the club’s efforts and was quick to step forward.
“I thought it would be a really great experience to have a community of other people from Hawai‘i, because Boston is so far away from home,” Luke Kalani said.
Her passion for the club and its mission became evident early on as she took on a leadership role, helping to organize events that bring a touch of Hawai‘i to Tufts.
“Kristen actually reached out to me on Instagram, asking if I could join the roster for Hawai‘i Club,” Luke Kalani said. “And I was like, ‘Wait, I’d be interested in helping to plan events.’ ... That’s why I chose to be one of the event chairs.”
The Hawai‘i Club is gearing up for some unforgettable cultural celebrations this spring. On Apr. 12, they will be hosting a lu‘au on the Academic Quad. This event will transport attendees straight to the islands, featuring the graceful storytelling of hula, the rhythmic power of mele oli, Hawaiian chanting and singing and a unique glimpse into the Islands’ cowboy heritage with a paniolo-themed showcase.
To bring this event to life, the club is currently recruiting participants to perform hula.
“Hula is a very traditional style of Hawaiian dance that [has] been around forever. It’s really important to Hawaiian culture because it’s a way that we use to tell stories and … for passing down knowledge to the next generations,” Luke Kalani said. “In original Hawaiian culture, we didn’t have any written language. … [Spoken word and dance] are really important to preserving our culture and all of these stories that we have from a long, long time ago.”
In addition to the lu‘au, the club is looking forward to hosting cooking nights where members can come together to make traditional Hawaiian snacks and dishes, bringing a taste of home to campus.
“We don’t really get to eat a lot of those kinds of foods here,” Luke Kalani said. “I’m really looking forward to that.”
The club is also looking to connect with other schools in Boston to host events.
One of the most defining aspects of the Hawai’i Club is its deep connection to Aloha culture. In Hawai‘i, “Aloha” isn’t just a word: it’s a way of life, embodying kindness, respect and a profound sense of community. In addition to Native Hawaiians, Hawai‘i’s culture has been shaped by the thousands of laborers who came from around the world to work on the sugar plantations, particularly from China, Portugal, Japan, the Philippines, Korea and Puerto Rico.
Nicknamed the Aloha State, Hawai‘i is a melting pot where people from all corners of the world come together not only to celebrate Hawaiian traditions, but also to share their own cultures. This fusion creates a unique, ever-evolving cultural landscape, where old traditions are honored and new ones are born.
“Hawai‘i is very open and full of the Aloha spirit,” Medeiros explained. “You want to be very welcoming and loving toward other people.”
The diverse ethnic backgrounds of the Hawaiian population, Ching noted, created challenges in forming initial connections with other students from Hawai‘i at Tufts
“Everyone usually goes to the club of their ethnicities, but we [Hawai‘i residents] are not all the same ethnicities,” Ching said. “So, I wanted a space where we could all come together and get to know one another… make us feel a little bit more at home from some place so far.”
The Hawai‘i Club embodies this warmth and inclusivity, inviting everyone to be part of its community.
“You don’t have to be from Hawai‘i,” Ching explained. “Just be interested to join our club and we’ll welcome you with open arms.”
A key part of the Aloha spirit is ohana, the Hawaiian concept of family. In Hawaiian culture, ohana extends beyond biological relatives to include close friends and the broader community, fostering deep connections and a sense of belonging. Ching reflected on the power of ohana.
“Ohana is [about] having a big family,” she said. “Being able to grow that family here would be really cool.”
Just like in Hawai‘i, the club fosters these bonds, making its members feel at home, no matter where they’re from. Through shared experiences, mutual respect and a commitment to inclusivity, the Hawai‘i Club becomes more than just a gathering — it’s a family.
