HAWAIʻI POLO CLUB

Headline Polo Match
TEAM INDIA v. TEAM HAWAII

• Indian Dance, Music, Food & Art
• Indian Dance Workshop, Group Dance & Group Song
• Free Admission for Keiki 12 & Under
• Dogs Welcome (must be on leash)

Sunday, August 13
11:30am-7:30pm

Hawaiʻi Polo Club
68-411 Farrington Hwy, Waialua, HI 96791

MAUI CANNED FOOD DONATIONS

We are collecting canned food donations during the polo match today. Please drop off your canned food items at the collection truck, right after checking in at the gate. We will ship the food donations to Maui.

Also, part of the revenue from today’s match will be donated to aid Maui!

ALL PRE-SALE TICKETS & PARKING PASSES ARE SOLD OUT

YOU MAY PURCHASE A GENERAL ADMISSION TICKET AT THE GATE IF:

1. You arrive in a vehicle with a parking pass or VIP Ticket holder,

2. You are dropped off inside the entrance gate with the drop-off vehicle leaving the area promptly thereafter, or

3. You are arriving by bike

If you do not currently have a parking pass or VIP ticket, you will not be allowed to park onsite as we have already reached our parking lot capacity.

NO ENTRY BY FOOT & NO STREET PARKING

To ensure everyone’s safety, policies are in place to prevent patrons from walking alongside the road and into the event.

Anyone who attempts to walk onto the property will be denied entry. In addition, parking is *not* allowed along either side of the road. Vehicles that park alongside the road will be towed.

All ticket holders are permitted to bring dogs (must be kept on leash), and all ticket holders may ‘picnic’ (BYO chairs, blankets, coolers, drinks, food, etc.) at Hawaiʻi Polo’s central courtyard or makai wedding lawn (i.e. a sideline parking stall is *not* required for picnicking; everyone can picnic).

The Colors of India Come to Hawai’i Polo Club
🐎🇮🇳🪷☀️🪷🇮🇳💃🏽

Break out your most vibrant attire and joyous of smiles, and join us for a special celebration of international culture. On Sunday August 13, India Festival returns to Hawai’i Polo Club for its third edition and first time since 2019. Festivities include Team India in our featured match (captained by Punjabi resident and lifelong, Indian polo ambassador Vikram Singh Sodhi), five-star Indian food, traditional Indian dance, Indian drumming (dhol & darbouka), Bollywood music, Indian jewelry & art, henna tattoos and more.

This year marks the third time Mumbai native and director of Univ. of Hawaii’s Center for South Asian Studies Dr. Sai Bhatawadekar is showcasing traditional Indian dance and leading a group workshop / dance at Hawai’i Polo Club, and the 11th time Sodhi is bringing an Indian team to our oceanfront field. Each and every year, Team India and the O’ahu Indian community grace us with a joie de vie that uplifts our hearts to the moon. As the final days of India’s 75th year of independence unfold, we are *thrilled* to once again place Indian culture center stage, share a big “mahalo” with Team India and give all an opportunity to come together and celebrate the traditions and energy of this wonderful country and its people.

🏆 SCHEDULE 🏆

• 11:30am – Gate Opens / Tailgate Kick-Off (mauka & makai stalls available)
• 12pm – Beach Bar & Food Stands Open. Food service ‘til 6pm / bar service ’til 7:30pm.
  – Menu | Ke Nui Kitchen: i) grilled chicken tandoori, ii) lamb korma, iii) aloo gobi and desserts: i) chai donut holes and ii) gulab jamun
  – Menu | Lotus Hawai’i: idli, sambar and chutney, ii) kachori and chana, iii) vegetable pulav with vegetable korma and iv) jalebi.
  – Indian jewelry and art by Rainbow by the Sea and Ananda Madhavi, plus henna tattoos by Nighat Quadri.
  – Indian gifts and cheer courtesy of Lotus Hawai’i
• 1:30pm – POLO MATCH #1
• 3pm – Halftime | Indian Dance by Dr. Sai Bhatawadekar & Friends
• 3:30pm – POLO MATCH #2: TEAM INDIA v. TEAM HAWAII
• 5:15pm – Indian Dance
  – Solo performance by Arini Shankaralingam dancing to the song “Desh Rangila” (‘Country of Vibrant Colors’) celebrating the beauty of India’s lands, traditions and celebrations.
  – Group performance by Dr. Sai Bhatawadekar & Friends with Dave Gupta (dhol) and Bogy (darbouka)
• 5:30pm
  – Workshop | Community Dance led by Dr. Sai Bhatawadekar & Friends with Dave Gupta and Bogy
  – Group Song led by Lotus Hawai’i
• 5:50pm – Team India v. Team Hawaii – Trophy Presentation
• 6:00pm
  – Group dance performance: Bharatanatyam Thillana by Aloha Natyam, featuring Janani Lakshmanan, Dr. Akshatha, and Dr. Shreya – a Thillana in Ragam Paras, traditionally performed at the end of an Indian classical repertoire, showcasing captivating geometric formations, while emphasizing the rhythmic stirring footwork that is the hallmark of Bharatanatyam.
  – Brighter Side of Sol band featuring special guest Dave Gupta
  – DJ Jerome James with Dave Gupta and Bogy
  – Group dance performance by Dr. Sai Bhatawadekar & Friends
• 7:30pm – PAU

Entry Policy: General Admission ticket holders are permitted to bring chairs, blankets, coolers, drinks (both alcoholic & non-alcoholic), food, etc. onsite. Free entry for keiki 12 years old and younger. All ticket holders are permitted to bring dogs (must be kept on leash), and all ticket holders may ‘picnic’ (BYO) at Hawai‘i Polo’s central courtyard or makai wedding lawn (i.e. a sideline parking stall is *not* required for picnicking; everyone can picnic).

Parking Policy: Street parking is prohibited. All attendees must: i) purchase a parking pass and park onsite, ii) carpool with parking pass or VIP ticket holder, iii) be delivered to the drop-off / pickup zone inside Hawaii Polo Club or iv) arrive by bike.

“Overflow Parking” Passes: provide you with an onsite parking stall adjacent to our mauka sideline. Watch the matches and post-match entertainment in our central, shaded courtyard or watch the matches on our makai wedding lawn and then walk across the field for post-match entertainment.

Presented by Mark Tarone | Roots Music Hawai’i

INDIAN CULTURAL AMBASSADORS

Vikram Singh Sodhi and his wife Sumathy Sodhi

No better way to celebrate Indian culture at Hawai’i Polo Club than welcoming Team India captain, Vikram Singh Sodhi, back to our grounds. Sodhi hails from Anandpur Sahib, a town founded by the 9th Guru of the Sikhs Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib in 1665. Located in India’s Punjab province and known as the “city of bliss,” Anandpur is revered as one of the most sacred places in Sikhism and hosts the largest annual gathering of Sikhs each spring during Hola Mohalla. Sodhi is a Sikh himself and has been a longtime ambassador of this region. In 2014, he founded Anandpur Sahib Heritage Foundation and serves as its Managing Trustee. The foundation is a charitable trust dedicated to nurturing and promoting the town’s history, heritage and current cultural offerings.

With horsemanship being a central and prized aspect of Sikh culture, it’s no wonder that Sodhi is as passionate about polo as he is about his Sikh and regional traditions. We are thrilled to welcome Sodhi back to the North Shore and Hawai’i Polo for the first time since 2019 and extend a giant “mahalo” to Sodhi for sharing Indian polo and culture with us for over a decade!

Sikhnet.com sheds light on the following elements of Sikhism: “The word Sikh means ‘disciple’ or ‘learner.’ The Sikh religion was founded in Northern India in the fifteenth century by Guru Nanak Dev Ji and is distinct from Islam and Hinduism. Sikhism is monotheistic and stresses the equality of all men and women. Sikhs believe in three basic principles; meditating on the name of God (praying), earning a living by honest means as well as sharing the fruits of one’s labor with others. Sikhism rejects caste and class systems and emphasizes service to humanity.”

A Nihang (Sikh Warrior) at Hola Mohalla in Anandpur Sahib.

Gurudwara Shri Kesgarh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib.

Dr. Sai Bhatawadekar

Univ. of Hawaii associate professor, Dr. Sai Bhatawadekar, returns to Hawai’i Polo Club with her dance troupe ready to share both Bollywood and traditional folk dances such as Bhangra, Garba and Laavni from her homeland. Raised in Mumbai, Bhatawadekar centers much of her teachings on creativity – helping students gain an understanding of Indian philosophy and culture by leading them in dance, poetry and other artistic activities. These practices combined with her multi-cultural studies (Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam) have earned Bhatawadekar recognition as a leader in the positive peace movement – building self-esteem, genuine relationships and happy communities through education.

Dr. Sai Bhatawadekar, one of Hawaii’s preeminent scholars in Indian culture and performance art, headlines our pau hana entertainment Sunday. Expect a fun, communal experience as she teaches all in attendance the movements and spirit of Indian dance!

Lotus Hawai’i

Lotus Hawai’i will be onsite presenting two Indian dances (Bharatanatyam Thillana and a dance to the song, “Desh Rangila”) and raising funds for the organization via sales of Indian food and crafts. Lotus Hawai’i formed in 1989 to found the Healing Stone temple in Wahiawa and has since dedicated itself preservation of and offering services at the Healing Stone, as well as fostering music, dance and additional cultural practices.

NO PLACE WE’D RATHER BE THAN IN MOKULEʻIA BY THE SEA!

HAWAIʻI POLO CLUB
INDIA FESTIVAL

Sunday – August 13 • 11:30am-7:30pm
68-411 Farrington Hwy, Waialua, HI 96791

Tickets and parking passes are available now. A parking pass is required for all vehicles. Street parking and walk-ins are prohibited.

For general admission tickets, you must first select a parking pass, then add one or more general admission tickets. VIP tickets include a parking pass. If you are getting dropped off or arriving by bike, purchase your tickets by calling: (808) 220-5153. See entry, parking and VIP details below, including what you are allowed to bring onsite.