Heiva - Tahiti Fete Updates

Heiva for later this year and 2008 are shaping up. The Fete in Orlando, Florida - Tamarii Tahiti Fete has updated their website and announced the 2008 event date. Reserve April 2, 2008. The event is expanding to include all ages. What better excuse to hit Walt Disney World than to take your group to the event. Contact Evelyn or Isitolo Oloa for more information. They have also updated their gallery and added 2008 entry forms.

Back over in Hawaii, the Manutahi Tahiti event has moved location to Maui. More details to be announced shortly.

The next Heiva this year will be at Cerritos, California – The Hura Tahiti Tahitian Dance Competition. The event will take place July 13-14. The Tahitian dance workshop features Roiti Tahauri Sylva and Coco Hotahota, grand master of Tahitian dance. Drumming workshops feature Alex Tekurio. See their website for more details.

Kauai & Las Vegas Tahitian Dance Competitions

Ia Orana and the pulsating drums of Tahiti could be heard across the oceans and in the desert. Not one, but two Tahitian dance competitions occurred this past holiday weekend. In Kauai, the 7th Annual Kauai Polynesian Festival took the island by storm. Even the crafters got involved as evident from a news article in the local paper, Kauai - The Garden Island. The event is organized by the Kamanawa Foundation, and is led by Kapu Kinimaka-Alquiza, Kumu hula of Halau Na Hula o Kaohikukapulani. Activities took place on the grounds of the Hilton Kauai Beach Resort.

On the mainland, in Las Vegas, Nevada, a second Tahitian dance competition brought crowd pleasing performances to the Cox Pavilion at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV). Photos of the solo, aparima, otea and ahuroa competitions can be found here.

Dance groups announced for 2007 Tahiti Taurua Nui i Las Vegas

Dance groups participating in the 2007 Tahiti Taurua Nui i Las Vegas announced. The event will take place May 26-27 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas.

Apatoerau (Seattle, WA)
Fano Maohi (Salt Lake City, UT)
Ha'awi (Modesto, CA)
Halau 'O Na Ali'i (San Diego, CA)
Ho'okupu 'O Hawaii
Hula Halau I Ka Wa I Hala
Kaimikahu Hale O' Hula (Scottsdale, AZ)
Kaleo Onalani (San Diego, CA)
Keiki O' Mokiao (Las Vegas, NV)
Lei Oleander Dancers
LeiIsa (San Diego, CA)
Lokelani's Rhythm of the Islands (Huntington Beach, CA)
Mai Polynesia (Fountain Valley, CA)
Marama Te Mafatu Nui (San Bruno, CA)
Merahi O Tehani (Union City, CA)
Na Kamalii O ke Akua
Na Pua Ilima 'O Kehaulani (Chula Vista, CA)
Ninth Island Productions (Las Vegas, NV)
No Te Here Ote Hiroa (Fresno, CA)
Polynesian Paradise (Santa Fe Springs, CA)
Polynesian Rhythms
Puahi's Polynesian Dancers (Temecula, CA)
Tago Le Pasefika
Tamali'i (Hayward, CA)
Te Fare O Tamatoa
Te Mau Ta'ata Anuanua (Merced, CA)
Te Pura O Te Rahuraa (Pacifica, CA)
Te Tiare Patitifa (Lahaina, HI)
Tevakanui (Las Vegas, NV)

Please be aware that this list is tentative and subject to change.