Fort Lauderdale, FL  – Explore the culture, traditions, history and music of Asia and the South Pacific Islands during the Museum of Discovery and Science’s annual Asian-Pacific American Heritage Celebration in collaboration with Polynesian Proud and sponsored by Children’s Services Council of Broward County. Visitors are invited to enjoy special activities and performances in honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage month, taking visitors on a journey to the Pacific islands of Hawaii, Tahiti, New Zealand and Samoa and Asian countries including Japan, Philippines, and China. Shows and activities are included with museum exhibits admission.

May is Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month --- a national celebration of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. In 1992, the official designation of May as Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month was signed into law. A rather broad term, Asian-Pacific encompasses all of the Asian continent and the Pacific islands of Melanesia (New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Solomon Islands), Micronesia (Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru and the Federated States of Micronesia) and Polynesia (New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, French Polynesia and Easter Island). For more information visit our website at mods.org.

Cultural Performances, Activities and Community Partners

Note:  All activities happen daily unless otherwise noted.

Polynesian Proud Productions

Enjoy the culture, food, and music of the Polynesian Islands as brought you to by Polynesian Proud Productions. For more information about Polynesian Proud Productions, visit their Facebook www.facebook.com/PolynesianProudProductions/

It’s a day full of culture, fun and activities for the whole family! Polynesian Proud will be featuring live performances, cultural demonstrations and hands-on activities from the islands of Hawaii, Tahiti, New Zealand and Samoa. Stop by our island booths and take part in making a lei, learn to hula, play the Tahitian drums or strum a ukulele. Meet our warriors and receive a moko (Maori tattoo), or try your hand at New Zealand’s Poi dance and even taste a sample of Hawaiian Delights! Kids will enjoy the Keiki Korner Poly Coloring Contest and Meet & Greet and Photo Op with Polynesian Proud’s Moana and participate in the Moana Costume Contest. Sound a conch shell, learn to wear a pareo and a lava lava and even get to participate in our fashion show.

Live music featuring Daytona Beach's "The UKUS" and we are honored once again to have Auntie Otila grace our stage with her performance and demonstrations. Samoan Fire Feature too!

Kali Montero, Da Big Kahuna will be there too with demonstrations and learn to surf tips, safety and everything you need to know whether your a novice or experienced, stop by say Aloha!

Ronin Taiko - Theatrical Japanese Drumming Troupe

Based in South Florida, Ronin Taiko performers practice wadaiko, or Japanese drumming. They travel frequently to Japan to train with taiko Sensei (teachers) and further develop their physical and mental discipline in this art form. With additional training backgrounds ranging from martial arts to dance and theatre, Ronin Taiko hopes to continue bringing Japanese Taiko performances to wider audiences.  For more information about Ronin Taiko, please visit their website http://ronintaiko.com.

Big Kahuna Surf School

Learn to surf with the “Da Big Kahuna” himself, Kali!  Hawaiian born, Kali Montero was raised in Hawaiian surf and learned to surf the ancient Hawaiian style by first studying the nuances of waves from his “Kupuna”. Raised and first learning to surf on the West side with some of the ‘first families’ of surfing Kali later came under the tutelage of the legendary Duke Paoa Kahanamoku “father of modern day surfing” who instilled in him the perpetuation of surfing as a Hawaiian heritage and gift to the world. Kali continued to learn and honed his craft from some of the legendary ‘beach boys’ of Hawaii and spent a quarter of a century teaching thousands this ancient Sport of Kings.  For more information about Big Kahuna Surf School, please visit their website www.bigkahunasurf.com

Indian Classical Dance

Led by teacher/dancer, Madhavi Menon, students of the Natya Mārga School of Dance  will present Indian classical dance in the Bharatanatyam style. Bharatanatyam is characterized by the geometric patterns formed by the limbs which makes the dance form extremely dynamic and powerful.  For more information about the Natya Marga School of Dance, please visit their website https://natyamarga.weebly.com/.

Hiromi Asai Kimono Fashion Show Saturday (May 12, 2018 only)

Meet world-renowned Japanese Kimono designer, Hiromi Asai. See her kimono-inspired fashions from Paris and New York in a runway show. Hiromi Asai is New York based internationally acclaimed fashion designer and kimono stylist who has produced many kimono fashion shows at Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam and The Museum of World Culture in Gothenburg, and in New York, as well as in Florida. In addition, she designs and creates the

dress using the traditional Japanese hand-made kimono fabrics. More information can be found at her website www.hiromi-asai.com