Pacific Islander Festival at the Aquarium of the Pacific June 6th and 7th

Learn about Pacific Islander cultures through cultural displays, artisanal craft demonstrations, music, and dance

WHAT:  Everyone is invited to celebrate Pacific Islander cultures, including Chamorro, Fijian, Hawaiian, Māori, Tahitian, and Samoan, at the Aquarium of the Pacific during its twenty-third annual Pacific Islander Festival. This weekend festival will feature cultural displays, artisanal craft demonstrations, and live music and dance performances. Guests are also invited to explore the Aquarium’s Tropical Pacific Gallery to get up close with marine life found off the coast of Pacific islands, from colorful reef fish to sea turtles. On the Saturday of the event, the Aquarium will also include its annual Heritage Award ceremony at 1:00 p.m. in the Honda Pacific Visions Theater.

This year during the festival, the Aquarium is honoring Bill Laolagi and posthumously honoring Rose Laolagi, who spent her lifetime helping others and sharing cultural traditions and heritage through her involvement with ten Polynesian cultural organizations. Many of the organizations she was involved with fundraised to offer college scholarships for students. Bill Laolagi emceed events like Ho’olaule’a Alondra Park, played the guitar and sang while Rose Laolagi coordinated her students. Rose Laolagi was the vice president of Hawaii Inter Council of Southern California and together with Bill Laolagi co-founded Nualaniʻs Polynesia, which shares cultural dances of Hawaii, New Zealand, Samoa, Tahiti, and Tonga. Rose Laolagi passed away in January 2026. She will be remembered and honored for her work with students from the community and helping spread Polynesian cultures at festivals, including the Aquarium’s Pacific Islander Festival. The award ceremony will take place at the Aquarium on Saturday, June 6 at 1:00 p.m. in the Honda Pacific Visions Theater.

WHEN:           Saturday and Sunday, June 6 and 7, 2026, 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. 

WHERE:         Aquarium of the Pacific, 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802

COST:            Included with general admission: $49.95 per adult (ages 12+), $34.95 per child (ages 3-

                    11), $46.95 per senior (ages 62+), and free for Aquarium members and children under age three /

                     Reservations required 

INFO:            (562) 590-3100 or aquariumofpacific.org/events/info/pacific_islander_festival/

Credit: Aquarium of the Pacific.