Las Vegas: A Second Home for Hawaiians
Charles Richey
May 18, 2009
Las Vegas has always been a favorite vacation destination for Hawaiians. However, over the years a lot of islanders have opted to call Las Vegas home. As more and more Hawaiians moved to the Las Vegas valley, the impact of their culture on the valley grew and local businesses started to take note.
It probably started with the Imperial Palace on the Las Vegas strip. Sixteen years ago the Imperial Palace started offering a poolside traditional Hawaiian luau dinner buffet. Diners are entertained by Polynesian music, fire dancers and traditional dance tours through Tahiti, Samoa, Fiji and Hawaii. Now the show is still going strong.
Shopping
Probably the biggest Hawaiian "attraction" is the 80,000-square-foot Hawaiian Marketplace, located in the middle of the Las Vegas strip. Modeled after the International Marketplace in Honolulu, the outdoor shopping center features lush tropical plants, bright colors and free performances by feature Island musicians, hula dancers, lei makers and several other acts. The crown jewel of the entertainment is the Birdman of Las Vegas. The show runs Friday through Sunday, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The show includes Macaws, Cranes, Eagles, Owls, Cockatoos and even a Condor.
The marketplace is made up nine anchor stores offering a variety of clothing, jewelry, gifts and souvenirs intermingled with several stand-alone cart vendors. To help regulate against the hot desert sun, the market is covered by an awning and there are several misting fans as well. Should shoppers get hungry there are several great food choices offering Chinese, Filipino, Indian and traditional American chow. There is also a stand serving smoothies and ice cream.
While being the biggest, the marketplace was not the first Hawaii store in Las Vegas. That honor goes to Aloha 2 go. Located about 15 minutes from the strip on West Sahara, they are billed as "Hawaii´s store in Las Vegas". Virtually anything and everything Hawaiian can be found there, from jewelry to authentic music.
Festivals
In the fall, there are also a couple of annual Hawaiian Festivals, the Islands of the Pacific (formerly known as the Pure Aloha Fall Festival) and the Hawaiian Isle Festival and Outrigger Canoe Regatta. Both festivals feature arts, crafts, ethnic food and live entertainment. The Hawaiian Isle Festival and Outrigger Canoe Regatta is actually held in Henderson at Lake Las Vegas. They offer a great day of fun and entertainment for both homesick islanders and visitors alike.
Media
The UNLV radio station 91.5 KUNV has a Hawaiian radio show called the Little Grass Shack. The show has been on the air since August of 2001. Currently the show is broadcasts Saturday mornings from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can also visit their website at www.thelittlegrassshack.net for play lists. For those that can´t wait for the radio show, there is another site pipeline2paradise.com that streams free Hawaiian music 24/7.
Cuisine
Hawaiian style food has become increasingly popular in the Las Vegas valley. Hawaiian "fast food" giant L & L Barbecue has five locations in Las Vegas and one in nearby Henderson. There is also the Aloha Kitchen chain with three locations in Las Vegas. Several other mom and pop restaurants have opened up as well, offering Hawaiian style barbecue and other island fare.
Community
The Hawaiian community in Las Vegas is fairly close knit. There are several businesses and websites that cater to the community like alohavalley.com which lists different events throughout the year. There is also a Las Vegas Hawaiian Civic Club that was founded in 1989. The club also promotes specific events and has a scholarship program for Hawaiians. For more information, visit lvhcc.org.
This list has just been a small sampling of the Hawaiian scene in Las Vegas. There are many more festivals, stores and cultural events not listed. If you are thinking about moving from Hawaii to the main land, Las Vegas has a thriving Hawaiian community. Contact a local agent that is familiar with the area to help you find the right home for you.
It probably started with the Imperial Palace on the Las Vegas strip. Sixteen years ago the Imperial Palace started offering a poolside traditional Hawaiian luau dinner buffet. Diners are entertained by Polynesian music, fire dancers and traditional dance tours through Tahiti, Samoa, Fiji and Hawaii. Now the show is still going strong.
Shopping
Probably the biggest Hawaiian "attraction" is the 80,000-square-foot Hawaiian Marketplace, located in the middle of the Las Vegas strip. Modeled after the International Marketplace in Honolulu, the outdoor shopping center features lush tropical plants, bright colors and free performances by feature Island musicians, hula dancers, lei makers and several other acts. The crown jewel of the entertainment is the Birdman of Las Vegas. The show runs Friday through Sunday, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The show includes Macaws, Cranes, Eagles, Owls, Cockatoos and even a Condor.
The marketplace is made up nine anchor stores offering a variety of clothing, jewelry, gifts and souvenirs intermingled with several stand-alone cart vendors. To help regulate against the hot desert sun, the market is covered by an awning and there are several misting fans as well. Should shoppers get hungry there are several great food choices offering Chinese, Filipino, Indian and traditional American chow. There is also a stand serving smoothies and ice cream.
While being the biggest, the marketplace was not the first Hawaii store in Las Vegas. That honor goes to Aloha 2 go. Located about 15 minutes from the strip on West Sahara, they are billed as "Hawaii´s store in Las Vegas". Virtually anything and everything Hawaiian can be found there, from jewelry to authentic music.
Festivals
In the fall, there are also a couple of annual Hawaiian Festivals, the Islands of the Pacific (formerly known as the Pure Aloha Fall Festival) and the Hawaiian Isle Festival and Outrigger Canoe Regatta. Both festivals feature arts, crafts, ethnic food and live entertainment. The Hawaiian Isle Festival and Outrigger Canoe Regatta is actually held in Henderson at Lake Las Vegas. They offer a great day of fun and entertainment for both homesick islanders and visitors alike.
Media
The UNLV radio station 91.5 KUNV has a Hawaiian radio show called the Little Grass Shack. The show has been on the air since August of 2001. Currently the show is broadcasts Saturday mornings from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can also visit their website at www.thelittlegrassshack.net for play lists. For those that can´t wait for the radio show, there is another site pipeline2paradise.com that streams free Hawaiian music 24/7.
Cuisine
Hawaiian style food has become increasingly popular in the Las Vegas valley. Hawaiian "fast food" giant L & L Barbecue has five locations in Las Vegas and one in nearby Henderson. There is also the Aloha Kitchen chain with three locations in Las Vegas. Several other mom and pop restaurants have opened up as well, offering Hawaiian style barbecue and other island fare.
Community
The Hawaiian community in Las Vegas is fairly close knit. There are several businesses and websites that cater to the community like alohavalley.com which lists different events throughout the year. There is also a Las Vegas Hawaiian Civic Club that was founded in 1989. The club also promotes specific events and has a scholarship program for Hawaiians. For more information, visit lvhcc.org.
This list has just been a small sampling of the Hawaiian scene in Las Vegas. There are many more festivals, stores and cultural events not listed. If you are thinking about moving from Hawaii to the main land, Las Vegas has a thriving Hawaiian community. Contact a local agent that is familiar with the area to help you find the right home for you.
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