Te Mana O Te Ra presents Ha'amana'o

Color, dance, pageantry and music of Tahiti are but a few of the highlights you'll experience at Te Mana O Te Ra's Ha'amana'o... a time to remember. The event takes place on Saturday, June 14, 2008 at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek, California. Admission is $25, children (under 12) and seniors are $23. Tickets may be purchased by calling (925) 943-SHOW or by visiting www.lesherartscenter.org

If you would like more information, please contact Te Mana O Te Ra by calling (925) 943-5327 or emailing temanaotera@aol.com
It's an event for the whole family.

Heiva i Maui 2008 flyer

The 11th Annual Heiva i Maui is set to take place Friday-Sunday, August 8-10, 2008. Activities take place at the Maui War Memorial Gymnasium in Wailuku. On Friday the solo competition as well as Mr. & Miss Heiva i Maui crowning will take place from 6-10 pm. Saturday will continue with the solo competition and move to the group competition. Group competition will complete and awards will be given on Sunday. Both Saturday and Sunday's activities will run from 10 am - 6 pm.

For more information, inquiries or contacting organizers, please visit their website.

Tahitian dance shines at Waimea Valley - Manutahi Tahiti

Amid the lush tropical rainforest venue, Tahitian dance was alive and well at the recent Manutahi Tahiti Solo Competition. With approximately 300 dancers, vendors, family and guests, the event was a fun and entertaining way to spend the day with family and friends. Auntie Pola Teriipaia and her dedicated staff worked hard to create a family friendly atmosphere and the audience couldn't have been more happy.

Tiare Ura O Tahiti's Cami Keliinui of Hau'ula, was crowned the Overall Soloist as well as the Junior Overall Soloist. The Senior Overall Soloist award went to Jacinda Tavares from Matari'i Tahiti, based in Kalihi. Soloists from several other groups on Oahu also competed including Otea Kia Mana, Here Tama Nui, Te E'a o te Turama, Oriata, Marania Haoragi, Tamarii a Hiva, and Tiare Apetahi.

Judging the competition were veteran and familiar dance instructors including Camelia Temanaha, Ketsia Estall, Roiti Sylva, Regina Pasi, Charlie Temanaha and Pola Teriipaia.

Complementing all the beautiful dancers was a great selection of vendors who showcased many stunning and unique pieces of Tahitian arts and crafts. Among the vendors were B & B Tahitian Black Pearls, Tahitian Arts & Crafts by Elisa, Fatu's Carvings In Art, Mehetia Productions, Roiti Sylva, Brenda Perkins, Lucy Fonoimoana, Elaine Ortas and Te Vai Ura Nui.

Alma Damo, head of Promotions/Marketing for Manutahi Tahiti, revealed that many of the Tahitian black pearls given as prizes were courtesy of Auntie Pola's new line Polanesia. Many of the trophies were crafted by Manutahi's board members and parents. "We really wanted to reward the participants for their desire and love of Tahitian dance and nowadays when awards and trophies rarely represent the essence of Tahiti, we wanted to reinforce that."

Awards for Manutahi Tahiti 2008
Age 5-6 Tamahine
1. Randee Maiava of Oriata
2. Kaylee Tabangay of Tiare Ura O Tahiti
3. Randi Love of Here Tama Nui

Age 5-6 Tamaroa
1. Myka Gualdarama of Otea Kia Mana
2. Skyler Ramos of Here Tama Nui

Age 7-8 Tamahine
1. Vaekehu parker of Marania Haoragi
2. Chloe Domingo of Tiare Ura O Tahiti
3. Kaila Scanlan-Kaai of Marania Haoragi

Age 9-11 Tamahine
1. Cami Keliinui of Tiare Ura O Tahiti
2. Poerava Lee of Te'e'aoteturama
3. Shandy Hopeau of Tiare Ura O Tahiti

Junior Overall Soloist
Cami Keliinui of Tiare Ura O Tahiti

Age 12-14 Vahine
1. Shayna Lei Soma of Tiare Ura O Tahiti
2. Aulani Pung of Tiare Apetahi
3. Shannalein Replogle of Here Tama Nui

Age 15-17 Vahine
1. Jacinda Tavares of Matari'i Tahiti
2. Alexa-Ashley Cezar of Tiare Ura O Tahiti
3. Candace Maria of Otea Kia Mana

Age 18-21 Vahine
1. Tanya Cadiente of Otea Kia Mana
2. Kawena Otineru of Otea Kia Mana

Senior Overall Soloist
Jacinda Tavares of Matari'i Tahiti

Overall Soloist
Cami Keliinui of Tiare Ura O Tahiti

Overall Pupu Ori/Most Points
Tiare Ura O Tahiti - Jerrold Martinez, Ra'atira

Most Winning Soloists
Tiare Ura O Tahiti - Jerrold Martinez, Ra'atira

Dancers who would like to order photos can contact Andrew Bryant Simms via his website at simmsstudio.com, call him at 808-383-0548, or visiting www.manutahi.com.

The event was sponsored by Waimea Valley, Hinano, Polanesia, Tehani Trading Co., Cookie Corner, Germaine's Luau and Pearlridge Shopping Center.

Waimea Valley has also confirmed that they will be hosting next years event and again be sharing the Tahitian culture with more of the North Shore. Mark your calendar and visit the Manutahi Tahiti website for more information.

Tahiti Taurua Nui i Las Vegas 2008

Tahiti Taurua Nui i Las Vegas is coming May 24-25. Now in its sixth year, the event, produced by Tetua Ioane features both solo and group competitions. At least 24 groups or soloists representing Tahitian dance groups throughout the nation are scheduled to perform.

Tickets are $17 per day ($12 for children ages 2-12) and can be purchased by calling UNLV Ticket Call Center at (702) 739-FANS (3267) or (866) 388-FANS (3267). You can also order online at www.UNLVtickets.com

Event information, group applications and questions can be referred to
Tetua Ioane
Tamaeva Arii, Inc.
P.O. Box 70988
Las Vegas, NV 89170 U.S.A.

Tele: (702) 251-5793
Fax: (702) 220-9308

Visit the event website for more details.

Te Aranui O Tahiti 2008

Have you ever wondered what exactly the judges are looking for when they watch soloists and groups? Te Aranui O Tahiti 2008 took that very question and conducted a series of workshops for soloists and groups. Dancers from Merahi O Tehani, Tamali'i, Ka Ua Tuahine, Na Hoku of Canada and Nemenzo participated in the workshops. Guests Coco Hotahota and Roiti Sylva conducted the class, breaking down basic steps necessary in a solo dance competition routine. Correct execution, spelling and terminology of each of the steps was emphasized. As the drummers were creating the atmosphere, each student presented a freestyle solo. An evaluation score sheet covering all the workshop dance steps and critiques was given to each student. An open discussion session with the guests concluded the class workshop.

It's rare that dancers are given the opportunity to work one-on-one on the details with the very judges that they perform in front of at other competitions throughout the year.

Always a crowd pleaser, the event also featured group presentations. Te Orama, 'Ote'a 'Api, Tiare O Te Ao and Nemenzo impressed with 'Ote'a and Aparima. Coco commented regarded the weekend activities as "tres beau". Te Aranui O Te Ao (TAOT) 2009 will take place April 25 and 26, 2009 at the San Francisco State University Gym. Mark your calendars and check our site for updates. For more information, visit the official site.

Fano Maohi Heiva postponed

Well, it's a bit late and we apologize for not getting this information out sooner. We've been busy trying to keep up with orders and introducing our new Tehani Pareo to the public. We're trying to get back on track and have some updates. The first update is news of the postponement of the Fano Maohi Heiva. The event is to now take place August 15-16, 2008. Originally, it was to take place last weekend but organizers decided recently to combine their two events into one. Their other event is a Tonga Tau'o'lunga Dance Festival. That event will take place a day before on August 14th.

We'll keep tabs on this event and try to get more details as it gets closer to the event date.

Heiva Nui 2008 - Provo, Utah

Just announced - Heiva Nui, a Tahitian dance competition in Provo, Utah will take place June 20-21, 2008 at Tahitian Noni International. The annual event now in its fifth year is part of a festival sponsored by Tradewindz Voyage Incorporated.

Activities include a scholarship pageant, dance group and solo competitions. For more information, registration and tickets, please visit their website - http://www.officialtvi.com - email them at info@officialtvi.com or call (801) 380-1298.

Hawaiian Merrie Monarch Festival features Te Vai Ura Nui exhibition

The recent victory of Charles and Cathy Temanaha's Te Vai Ura Nui Tahitian dance group has opened up an opportunity for the group to perform at Hawaii's premier Hula competition in Hilo, Hawaii - The Merrie Monarch Festival. This wasn't the first time that the group performed at the festival, but it's been four years since their last performance there.

The group repeated their award-winning performance from last month's Heiva i Honolulu. Choreographed by the Temanaha's, it is a love story called "Manino and Fanovai." It tells of an ancient Tahitian tale where the men are fishing while the women wait on the shore. When the men return with the speared fish, the women greet and surround them as if to make a living net.

As they return, a brave young fisherman catches the eye of a young maiden. He makes his desire known but her father doesn't approve. The father believes that the young man will not be able to provide for his daughter. Yet, the couples love continues to grown and is seen as they perform a couples' dance together. The young man's friends show their support by performing rigorous haka and the girls show their approval as well by performing a slow and graceful aparima. It all comes to a happy ending as the couple is married and all celebrate the new couples' life together.

With so much passion for their performance and desire to tell a story, it's no wonder Te Vai Ura Nui came away with top honors at the competition last month.

To perform at Hawaii's Merrie Monarch Festival is seen as a great privilege. The festival's main activities run Thursday (Miss Aloha Hula), Friday (Hula Kahiko) and Saturday (Hula Au'wana) April 3-5, 2008.

Manutahi Orlando impresses at Tamari'i Tahiti Fete

This past weekend saw the Tamari'i Tahiti Fete of Orlando take center stage in the Tahitian dance community. Family, competitors and guests gathered at Oak Ridge High School Gymnasium to watch this growing solo competition.

Tamari'i Tahiti Fete of Orlando saw an impressive showing from Manutahi Orlando. The group is a branch of the main group based on Oahu in Hawaii headed by Pola Teriipaia. Locally it is headed by Mahea Apo.

The competition was opened up to all ages this year. Visit the official website for more details and information about the event.

http://tamariifete.kpohana.com/index.html

2008 Solo Ori Winners
Ages 3-5
Vahine
1. Leilani Swider of Manutahi Orlando
2. Laniloa Mau'ia of Manutahi Orlando
3. Alyssa Murpy of Halau 'O Manulani

Ages 6-8
Vahine
1. Elaina Nevarez of Na Opiopio I Orlando
2. Amya Diaz of Halau 'O Manulani

Ages 9-12
Vahine
1. Natalie Oloa, Independent
2. Cheyenne Sky Romanillos, Independent
3. Melinda Nevarez of Na Opiopio I Orlando

Ages 13-16
Vahine
1. Chiana Jim of Manutahi Orlando
2. Marshae Bray Mamea of Siva 'A Manu
3. Giovanni Brown of Manutahi Orlando

Ages 17-22
Vahine
1. Grace Cabusi of Manutahi Orlando
2. Marlena Samuels of Siva 'A Manu
3. Tasi Galeai of Touch of Paradise

Ages 23 and up
Vahine
1. Celena Kaleonahenahe Faronda of Halau Kahealani

Tane
1. Tony Paialii of Touch of Paradise

Samoan Category
1. Priscilla Tauti of Halau Kahealani

..................................................

2008 Special Awards
Overall Junior Soloist
Elaina Nevarez of Na Opiopio I Orlando

Overall Senior Soloist
Tony Paialii of Touch of Paradise

Best Costume
Tiane Maluhia Kong of Manutahi Orlando

Overall Perpetual Group
Manutahi Orlando (Mahea Apo)

Te Aranui O Tahiti - The Route To Tahiti... and more

The month of April is featuring three great events featuring Tahitian dance. On Saturday, April 19th, the expanded Manutahi Tahiti dance group hosts their 2nd Tahitian Solo Competition at Waimea Falls Park on Oahu, Hawaii. Registration deadlines are fast approaching, so get your entry applications in as soon as possible. See their website to download their registration packet.

On Friday and Saturday, April 25-26, 2008, the Fano Maohi Heiva will be taking place at Granite Park Jr. High, located at 3031 South 200 East in Salt Lake City, Utah. Visit their website for details, ticket information and registration packets.

Most recently we received news of another new event - in it's second year, Te Aranui O Tahiti - The Route to Tahiti, will also be happening on the same weekend at San Francisco State University in Northern California. The two day event (Saturday and Sunday, April 26-27, 2008) encompasses not only solo and group exhibitions, but also intensive workshops in dance and music. The non competitive event will be showcasing some of California's top Tahitian dance groups including Tamali'i of Hayward, Te Orama of Daly City, 'Ote'a 'Api of Fremont, Tiare O Te Ao of SF/Hercules, Nemenzo of SF/Daly City, and Toa Here of Hilo, Hawaii among others.

Organizer and producer, Elizabeth Nemenzo Bertumen (who also produces the annual Tarena Tahiti event in September) and hosts, Ms. Roiti Tahauri Sylva and Mr. Etua Tahauri, have created a non-competitive atmosphere where award-winning Tahitian dance experts including Coco Hotahota of Tahiti will be providing soloists with written evaluations upon completion.

Visit the Te Aranui O Tahiti website (www.myspace.com/tearanuiotahiti) for more information, schedule, registration packets and the latest news on this event. General admission is $10. Contact by phone - (415) 425-1662 or email tearanuiotahiti@yahoo.com.

Check back with us or subscribe to our newsfeed as we receive more details on these and other future Tahitian dance events.

Photos of the Heiva i Honolulu 2008 event

The website Mike Bambi.com front page currently is showcasing photos that were taken at this year's Heiva i Honolulu. Contact Mike Bambi at (808) 554-1553 or email him at mikebambi@yahoo.com to purchase photos.