PORTLAND-KAOHSIUNG SISTER CITY ASSOCIATION
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Mission Statement
Portland-Kaohsiung Sister City Association (PKSCA) promotes people to people exchanges of educational, artistic, and cultural activities. PKSCA maintains several programs that focus on and support our mission. To promote friendship and understanding between the people of Portland, Oregon and Kaohsiung, Taiwan
About This Cause
The Portland-Kaohsiung Sister City Association (PKSCA) is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation in Portland, Oregon working to promote friendship and understanding between the people of Portland, Oregon and Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The PKSCA is focused on education, artistic, and cultural activities. Our primary event is the annual Portland Rose Festival Dragon Boat Race. Amongst our programs we have the Eye-Dotting Ceremony, a float in the Portland Rose Festival Grand Floral Parade, a float in the Portland Rose Festival Starlight Parade, Portland and Kaohsiung delegation exchanges, the Portland Rose Festival Dragon Boat Race, we support Chinese community organizations, and provide scholarships to local students. Our largest, and oldest event is the Portland Rose Festival Dragon Boat Race which has been presented by the PKSCA since 1989, and is an official component of the Portland Rose Festival. This event brings in local teams as well as out-of-town teams from across the world together to race in 3 divisions: Mixed, Women's, and Open. Our teams are made up of very diverse groups, each team has its own culture. We have breast cancer survivor teams, senior teams, high-school teams, corporate teams, and independent teams. Ages 16 and up participate in the race each year. Some teams have a cultural theme, while others are quite eclectic. The race is held the 2nd weekend after Memorial Day each year at the South Hawthorne Waterfront Park near the bowl. The race takes place with our fleet of 8 very unique Traditional-Style dragon boats, which are larger and more ornate than Hong-Kong style boats. Our race is one of the few left that use these amazing boats. They feature a large dragon head and tail, the race is over when a flag catcher leans off the front of the Dragon's head to capture the teams flag. The teams can be seen practicing in the Willamette River throughout spring leading up to the race weekend. Their beauty and culture are a site to behold. Our Delegation exchanges are a vital aspect of our community and culture. Each year Portland sends a delegation to Kaohsiung and vice versa. The Portland Delegation arrives in Kaohsiung during Lunar New Year for their famous lantern festival and to interact with community leaders and experience the culture. The Kaohsiung Delegation arrives in Portland during the Portland Rose Festival, culminating in the Dragon Boat Race. Along with the dignitaries in the delegation are high-school performers that put on a display of dance and music. The delegation also rides the PKSCA float in the Grand Floral Parade. The Eye-Dotting Ceremony is a significant PKSCA event, it occurs in spring, generally around the end of March or beginning of April. It kicks off the dragon boat race season, as well as the first event of the Portland Rose Festival. The ceremony is an ancient tradition where the eyes of the dragon boats are painted, metaphorically awakening the dragon. Buddhist masters perform a blessing and dignitaries from around Portland take part in this beautiful tradition. All of our programs seek to enhance community, exchanges ideas, and promote culture and the arts.