Lei Away staycation: Festival celebrates shared language of Aloha, tiki culture and creativity in KC

What began as a celebration of tiki vibes and tropical aesthetics has danced into an all-out luau that showcases authentic Polynesian traditions, culture and makers alongside local businesses and island enthusiasts, said Johnny Dawbarn.

Lei Away revelers enjoy an open air portion of the Lei Away festival within the Crossroads; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

The three-day Lei Away 2024 festival returned this weekend to the Crossroads with events ranging from a talk on the history of rum and traditional Polynesian dances to artisans sharing their crafts and chefs rolling out island cuisine.

“We’ve had the honor of connecting with the Polynesian community here in Kansas City,” said Johnny Dawbarn, owner of tiki-themed HITIDES Coffee and one of the festival’s lead organizers. “From chefs to dancers, we’ve become close with so many talented people, and it’s been amazing to bring that creativity to the festival.”

Traditions tied to the culture run deep in Kansas City, he said, because many Polynesian families have lived in the area for decades; some are even linked to the businesses that first brought tiki-inspired trends to the city in the 1950s — a source of nostalgia for many enthusiasts today.

That’s among the reasons it was important for the Lei Away event series — now in its second year — to celebrate Polynesian culture deeply and through a variety of mediums: visual art, dance, culinary arts, and more, added Dawbarn, who also co-owns Collective Ex, a collaborative workshop and studio that houses both HITIDES and the apparel brand SewKC, with his wife, Michele.

Focused on highlighting Polynesian entrepreneurs, this year’s Lei Away featured, for example, catering by Uce Kitchen and vendors like Etevise Designs, known for hand-drawn jewelry and wood-carved wall art.

“We’re in a creative space already with the studio, Collective Ex, and it’s exciting to extend that into things beyond visual art,” said Dawbarn. “Dance, culinary arts — it’s all the same spirit. It’s a wonderful extension of creativity.”

Lei Away’s collaborations with local businesses like Kon Tiki, Torn Label Brewing Co., Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, and Black Flamingo also worked to ensure a true blend of Kansas City talent and island vibes, he added.

Polynesian dancers share their culture through a performance at Lei Away in the Crossroads; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

First launched over Labor Day weekend in 2023 to spotlight Kansas City’s tiki culture and the passion of local enthusiasts, Lei Away offers a staycation for revelers to enjoy a taste of the tropics in their own backyard, Dawbarn explained.

Johnny Dawbarn, Lei Away festival organizer and co-founder of HITIDES Coffee, Collective Ex and SewKC; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

“Even though you’re not getting away to somewhere tropical, it does feel like you’re escaping,” he said.

Lessons from its debut year helped streamline this weekend’s events, Dawbarn said, adding that changes helped make the festival popular enough that it was often-times over the capacity for which organizers had planned.

“We’ve consolidated everything into one area, the Crossroads, instead of having people drive out to North KC and back,” he explained. “We also refined the events, giving more attention to the bigger ideas.”

For Dawbarn, the goal of Lei Away extends beyond helping Kansas Citians feel like they’ve slipped away to paradise, he said, noting he wants the festival to serve as a catalyst for new and meaningful connections between creatives.

“Every year, we see new friendships form, and that’s a big part of what makes this event special,” said Dawbarn. “We’re very thankful for all the players involved, and we’ll see what next year brings.”

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