“The Hula Halau ‘O Kealaakua dancers, at right, brought the graceful movements of traditional Hawaiian Islands dances to a standing-room only audience at the Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall on Saturday. The group was established in Tacoma in 1994, under the direction of Kumu Hula Kanoelani Galiza, originally from the island of ‘Oahu. (Photo by Bonnie West) From the rousing Samoan song, Fale Ulae, calling all to join in with the festivities, to the dance bands rocking in the close of the New Year festivities at 1 a.m. Sunday morning, the Third Annual Asia Pacific New Year Celebration 2001 held Saturday at the Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall provided every visitor with the opportunity to become more familiar with the diversity of the Asia Pacific cultures in the Tacoma/Pierce County community. The family-oriented event offered foods, crafts, information booths, music and dance all day, and thousands of people took advantage of the day’s free events to enrich their lives. Tacoma Mayor Mike Crowley and Lt. Governor Brad Owen were among the dignitaries attending, and were given the honor of participating in a Samoan Ava drinking ceremony. “