The sights, sounds and smells of the South Pacific will once again make their way into Hermosa Beach this weekend for the seventh annual Aloha Days Festival and Surf Contest. The money raised from the event will help fund new surfing exhibits for the Hermosa Beach Historical Society, which is now in the process of expanding its museum.

“We still are focused on building a surf museum,” said event organizer Abel Ybarra. “The purpose of this event is to raise funds to build a surf museum in the city of Hermosa Beach. We believe that a surf museum would bring to our community the recognition it well deserves, being the surf capital of Southern California during the 1960s and 1970s. A Hermosa Beach surf museum will preserve the memory and accomplishments of the surf community.”

The two-day event, slated for Aug. 9 and 10, includes a Polynesian food court, 60 arts and crafts booths showcasing clothing, surfing and skateboarding displays, and hand-crafted items. The event will also feature live dancing and entertainment on the beach just south of the city’s pier. Hundreds of surfers will compete in the surf contest scheduled Saturday and Sunday.

The music and dancing of Na Pua Mekealoha, Kanai Kalama and Tekurio Nu will perform following the opening ceremony at 11:45 a.m. Saturday. The surf band The Detonators will perform later that day at 4:30 p.m.

Hawaiian musician Randy Chang will kick off Sunday’s live entertainment with a performance at noon followed by Nualani’s Polynesian dancers at 1 p.m.

“This year’s program will bring dancing from the Pacific islands,” added Ybarra. “The event will feature the cultures of Polynesia, Hawaii, Tahiti, New Zealand and Samoa along with hula lessons and surf bands.”

The annual event has already raised an estimated $10,000 that will partially support the Historical Society’s effort to feature the city’s rich surfing history.

Hermosa Beach residents Abel and Corrine Ybarra oversee the event and expect about 8,000 people to attend.

This year’s affair is dedicated to the famed South Bay surfer and Hermosa Beach native Dru Harrison, who died on the island of Hawaii in February at the age of 52. He spent the last 20 years living on the big island. Organizers have planned a memorial paddle-out Sunday at 2 p.m., following the final round in the surfing contest.

“Not only was Dru an excellent surfer, he was also a top wrestler and state qualifier at Mira Costa High School,” said Ybarra. “In the mid-1960s, Dru was rated No. 1 in the boys’ division in the United States Surfing Association. He won the first Pro Surfing Championship in 1968 at Swami’s Beach in Encinitas, Calif., and then went on to win the Smirnoff Pro Surfing Championship in Santa Cruz, Calif., making him the sport’s first pro champion. Dru accomplished much more after that and made his mark in the world of surfing.”

Ybarra expects to raise approximately $2,000 to $3,000 from this year’s event. Aloha Days and its committee are a nonprofit entity, so city officials waived the event fees related to advertisement banners, city permits, event staffing and police services.

“The Aloha Days’ committee is dedicated to reuniting the surfing community,” explained Ybarra. “We want to provide a positive competitive spirit, and teach the youth of our community to respect and love the sport of surfing while encouraging family participation.”

The opening ceremony will begin on the south side of the pier at 11:45 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, while the vendors will open their booths earlier that day at 9 a.m. and will close down at 5 p.m. The event’s surf contest starts at 7 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday and ends at 3 p.m. For more information, visit www.alohadays.org.

Those interested in donating surfing memorabilia such as surfboards, skateboards, photographs or clothing to the Historical Society’s new space may call Ybarra at 374-6191.

Those interested in contributing to the effort to buy new display cases, building materials or museum items may make a donation to the Hermosa Beach Historical Society, 710 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach, Calif. 90254.