Willard Straight Hall was the site of a celebration of Pacific Islands culture on Friday night at an event co-hosted by Cornell’s Multicultural Community-Fueled Activities Board, Student Union Board and Hawai’i Club. Pacific Island Cultural Night featured a performance by Iam Tongi, the first Pacific Islander to win American Idol, as well as activities, food and beverages.
“MCFAB chose to put on a Pacific Islands centered event because we noticed a lack of representation for pacific islander culture on campus, both academically and socially,” wrote Samantha Smith ’26, the chief executive officer of MCFAB, in an email to The Sun.
Tongi, a 20-year-old singer, became the first Pacific Islander to win American Idol in 2023 at only 18 years old. Tongi was born in the small town of Kahuku in Honolulu, Hawaii, and grew up singing with his father and grandfather. Tongi’s father died in December 2021, after which Tongi struggled to perform. His mother ultimately signed him up for American Idol — an opportunity his father had long encouraged — and surprised Tongi with the news just two days before his audition.
At 7 p.m., attendees crowded into Willard Straight’s Memorial Room for an hour-long performance by Tongi.
Tongi opened with his song, “Road to Hana,” which received much applause. Supported by a drummer and a backup singer, Tongi played the acoustic guitar while serenading the crowd. He then played “I’ll Be Seeing You,” written by fellow American Idol contestant Francisco Martin, which he performed in honor of his late father during the season finale of American Idol.
Between songs, Tongi conversed with the crowd, discussing his recent move to Memphis and his current music projects, including his new song “Good for my Soul.”
Tongi’s rendition of “Cool Down” by Kolohe Kai elicited screams from the audience. When introducing “Sylvia’s Mother” by Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show, Tongi spoke of growing up in Hawaii, listening to a variety of music genres with his father.
Tongi then performed “Monsters” by James Blunt, the first song he performed on American Idol. Tongi’s duet of the song with Blunt is his most popular song on Spotify, with 12 million streams. Tongi closed the event with a cover of “Don’t Let Go” by Spawnbreezie.
Tongi’s performance was a hit with the audience. “He grew up in the town over from me [and] went to the high school that all of my aunties and cousins have gone to,” said Kaylah Toves ’26, president of the Hawai’i Club at Cornell. “So, it hits close to home to know that there's someone who is Pasifika and representing as well.”
The event itself began at 5 p.m., occupying three rooms in Willard Straight Hall. One featured traditional Pacific Islander cuisine and boba, another had a language activity with coloring pages, and the final one had a traditional tapa cloth activity. Traditional Pacific Islander music also played across the event attendees engaged in conversation and activities.
Tapa cloth, considered very valuable in Pacific Islander culture, is made from the bark of a paper mulberry tree. Tapa cloth can be worn during ceremonies and can be traded. The cloth-making process is very labor-intensive, contributing to its significance in the culture and its association with strength and lineage.
The tapa cloth activity room highlighted the unique motifs and designs from three different nations: the Samoa Islands, Fiji and Tonga. A presentation explained the importance of the event, and attendees were given the chance to paint motifs inspired by the traditional tapa cloth. Papers on the table showcased examples from each of the countries and explained the symbolism behind the patterns.
“This is such an amazing event where I can learn more about student involvement and other cultures here on campus while having amazing food and spending time with friends,” said attendee Victoria Gonzalez Esquivel ’27.
For Pacific Islander students, the event served not just as a fun night with friends, but also as an opportunity for visibility.
“Pasifika culture is deeply rooted in pride for our community and where we come from,” Toves wrote in an email to The Sun. “A victory for one is truly a victory for all, and seeing Iam last night not only strengthened our pride for him but also our continued Pasifika presence on campus.”
Evelyn Mullen Walsh ’27 is a Sun contributor and can be reached at eam435@cornell.edu.
Correction, Feb. 24, 3:00 p.m.: A previousversion of the article incorrectly spelled "Pasifika" and said that the tapa cloth was specific to Hawaii and highlighted the Solomon Islands, rather than the Samoa Islands.
