LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The Pure Aloha Festival celebrates the unique connection between the Hawaiian people and Las Vegas through the middle of this month.
Sunday, the event brought Pacific Islanders a little slice of island life to the mainland.
"Family, that's all it is," Gesse Cabajer said, while barbecuing for Island Life Foods.
Cabajer is from Maui and came to the festival to help his nephew cook and bring a little love to everyone who was trying to get a glimpse of some authentic Hawaiian food.
Each vendor at the festival was told to cook something different than everyone else - giving visitors a chance to dig into several aspects of different cultures.
"We always look for things that are going on around here," Sara Blakes said. "We like to bring the kids out and enjoy different cultures."
Organizer Auchele Fraser also said she has watched the Pure Aloha festival grow steadily now for eighteen years, as her uncle owns the festival, and has watched the Pacific Islander population in Las Vegas grew as well bring a unique culture to the city.
"It's not even just Hawaiians. Honestly, it's just the whole Polynesian culture," Fraser said. "Everybody comes here, and everyone is happy."
The Pure Aloha festival is expected to continue to grow and is scheduled to return to the Las Vegas valley in early October.
