By LIBBY MIDDLEBROOK
If Western Springs Reserve was a human, it would probably be recovering in hospital today.
More than 100,000 people charged into the park yesterday to attend the Pasifika Festival, an annual celebration of Pacific Island culture, art and lifestyle.
The footpaths around the reserve's main lake quickly became congested as
thousands squashed into the eight cultural villages, each representing a Pacific nation.
But nobody seemed to mind moving in island time.
Large chunks of watermelon, as well as kava and coconut milk, were in abundant supply in the 25-degree heat, along with live upbeat music.
Feasts for the eye were also in abundance, from flax artwork to delicate flower wreaths worn in the hair of the Island women.
"It's just fabulous. It's far bigger than we ever expected. It couldn't be better," said organiser Michelle Khan.
Visitor numbers were the highest since the festival started in 1993.
This year featured four entertainment stages and 200 stalls, selling crafts and a wide range of foods from raw fish to pawpaw to prawns.
Traditional Kiwi tucker was plentiful as well, with sausages on offer at roughly every third stall. By 2 pm, Uaniva Pahulu had sold more than 400 pork sausages from her stall.
"They're selling like hot cakes today. People are just loving them," said Mrs Pahulu, who plans to donate some of the money she raised to homeless people and her church.
The entertainment stages were hot favourites during the day, especially where nearby trees provided shelter for picnickers to snooze under.
A ukulele band in the Cook Islands village attracted hundreds of wiggling hips from the passing crowd.
Others learned how to produce hiphop music in a workshop performance by Auckland artist King Kapisi.
Aucklander Tess Miller said the festival had given her a greater appreciation of Pacific Island culture.
"It's great to see the different cultures and be able to identify with them. You don't feel quite so ignorant."
But rap music was the only thing on the mind of 11-year-old Anthony McKean and was the main reason he attended the event.
Steven Ball, of Auckland, spent much of the day shopping, buying tapa cloths and jewellery. "Look at this shell necklace, isn't it fabulous? It looks like a handbag," he said.
The festival was coordinated by the Auckland City Council.
