Hula halau from HawaiI went to New Zealand for this weekend’s Pacifika Festival, but it was cancelled because of the massacre at two mosques a week ago.

So instead, they and a halau from Aukland created a fundraiser for the victims in Christchurch.

The festival was cancelled due to limited police resources, as they’re being reprioritized.

Honolulu halau Ka Pa Hula O Kauanoe O Waahila found out about the cancellation while on a tour boat.

“Ke akua was telling us we needed to do something else and change our focus,” said Kumu Hula Maelia Lobenstein Carter. “So that’s kind of how the whole Hawaii for Christchurch happened. It happened within 15 minutes on a boat tour. By the time we got back to land, and she was able to make contact back with Aukland. Everybody just started to kokua.”

So with their sister halau Ka Pa Hula O Keao-Holola they put on Hawaii for Christchurch yesterday with Hawaiian food and entertainment.

Then Sunday, they held a March of Aloha, a two-mile walk to New Zealand’s oldest mosque where they offered their lei.

They were invited inside, where they were asked to do a pule or prayer.