Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Heiva i Tahiti 2008

Heiva i Tahiti - the original, the one that started it all. Sometimes called "Tahiti Fete" and sometimes called "Tiurai Festival", the Heiva i Tahiti takes place each year during the month of July. Activities take place on all islands and include not only the largest Tahitian dance competition in the world, but also traditional sporting events including javelin throwing, stone lifting, coconut tree climbing and canoe racing.

The main dance competition takes place at Place To'ata in the middle of Papeete, Tahiti. The competition is spread out over several days and brings together the best dance groups throughout French Polynesia. On Tuesday, July 8, 2008, opening ceremonies commence and the competition runs through Saturday, July 12, 2008. Results will be announced the following Thursday, July 17, 2008 and Final performances from winning soloists and dancers will conclude the competition on Friday, July 18, 2008.

As always, the schedule is subject to change.


Tuesday, July 8, 2008
7:30 pm - Opening Ceremony

8:15-10:00 pm - Solo Competition

Scheduled soloists from dance groups
Group 1: Nohoarii, Nonahere, Teata Maohi, and Ahutoru Nui

Group 2: Tamarii Teahupoo, Tamarii Tipaerui, Te Ui No Pare Nui, and Toerau Tarehu


Wednesday, July 9, 2008
7:00 pm - Group Category - Creation
NOHOARII

8:00 pm - Song Category
Tarava Raromatai
TAMARII TIPAERUI

Tarava Tuhaa Pae
TOERAU TAREHU

9:00 pm - Group Category - Creation
NONAHERE


Thursday, July 10, 2008
7:00 pm - Song Category
tarava raromatai
TE IU NO PARE NUI

7:30 pm - Group Category - Heritage
TEATA MAOHI

8:30 pm - Song Category
Tarava Tahiti
VAIARI NUI

Tarava Tahiti
TAMARII MATAIEA

9:20 pm - Group Category - Creation
AHUTORU NUI


Friday, July 11, 2008
7:00 pm - Song Category
Tarava Raromatai
TEHAU NUI NO PIRAE UTA

7:30 pm - Dance Category - Creation
TAMARII TEAHUPOO

8:30 pm - Song Category
Tarava Tahiti
TAMARII PAPARA

Tarava Tuhaa Pae
HAUTIMATEA

9:20 pm - Dance Category - Heritage
TAMARII TIPAERUI


Saturday, July 12, 2008
7:00 pm - Song Category
Tarava Tahiti
UI API NO ARUE

7:30 pm - Dance Category - Heritage
TE IU NO PARE NUI

8:30 pm - Song Category
Tarava Raromatai
TEMARAMA

Tarava Raromatai
TAMARII FANATEA

9:20 pm - Dance Category - Heritage
TOERAU TAREHU


Thursday, July 17, 2008
7:00 pm - Welcome

7:15 pm - Song Category
Awards Ceremony

8:45 pm - Dance Awards Ceremony


Friday, July 18, 2008
7:00-10:45 pm - Welcome

Song Category Award Winners Exhibition
Group and Soloist Category Award Winners Exhibition

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Tahiti Taurua Nui I Las Vegas 2009

Mark your calendar. Las Vegas will once again host a premiere Tahitian dance event next year. Tahiti Taurua Nui I Las Vegas, organized by KP and Tetua Ioane, have announced that May 30-31, 2009 will be the dates for next years event. Activities will once again take place at the Cox Pavilion on the UNLV campus. This will mark the 7th year of the heiva.

This years event had Lokelani's Rhythm of the Islands, Tepanie O Patitifa and Na Pua Ilima O Kehaulani take top group honors. Soloists came from a number of different dance groups throughout the Western US.

Not only do KP and Tetua Ioane run the Tahiti Tuarua Nui I Las Vegas, they also organize a Lei Day festival in May every year as well. In addition, they also run their own dance group Tamaeva Arii. The noncompeting group holds dance classes on Saturdays and Sundays for ages 5 and older.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Calling all Tahitian dance enthusiastic writers

We'd love to keep all our readers up to date all the time. We're looking for roaming reporters to help with keeping up with results and the "story" at the many Tahitian dance events. We receive requests all the time asking about results and we post as many as we can get from event organizers, but sometimes we just can't get the results that we want.

If you are interested in becoming a "roaming reporter" or correspondent, please let us know. Send us a sample of your original written work about Tahitian dance. Approved contributors can receive store credit at our online store - Black Pearl Designs. If your contribution is published, you will receive a writers credit and credit at our online store (to be determined depending on extent of content). Upon approval, submitting writer gives permission for Black Pearl Designs to publish above content on their website and publications.

Email us for details and event reporting needs.

Current reporting needs:
Merced Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete - Merced, CA
Tahiti Fete of San Jose - San Jose, CA
Heiva i Tahiti - Papeete, French Polynesia
Heiva i Reno - Reno, NV

Thursday, June 05, 2008

Tahiti Taurua Nui i Las Vegas solo and group results

Here's the results of the recent Tahiti Taurua Nui i Las Vegas which took place at the UNLV campus Cox Pavilion. Visit the official website for more information.

Tamarii Tamahine 5-8yrs
1. KENNEDY DRAGON of Le Polynesia
2. ALII ZAMORA of Lokelani's Rhythm of the Islands
3. KIRSTEN WONG of Lokelani's Rhythm of the Islands

Tamarii Tamaroa 5-8 yrs
1. PALANI WILLINGHAM of Tevakanui

Tamarii Tamahine 9-12 yrs
1. ABIGAIL CAMACHO of Tevakanui
2. MELIA BERNAL of Lokelani's Rhythm of the Islands
3. NANI KITASHIMA of Tevakanui

Tamarii Tamaroa 9-12 yrs
1. CHAZ WALTER of Tevakanui

Tamahine 13-17 yrs
1. LYDIA DAVILA of Te Pura O Te Rahura'a
2. HEU TAUMOEFOLAU of Tevakanui
3. ALEX JOHNSON of Hitia O Te Ra

Tamaroa 13-17 yrs
1. THOMAS TAPUSOA of Tevakanui

Vahine Taurearea 18-24 yrs
1. VICTORIA ABATAY of Tupua
2. KRYSTLE COCADIZ of Hitia O Te Ra
3. MAHALENE DULAY of Hitia O Te Ra

Tane Taurearea 18-24 yrs
1. CHRIS CASELLA of Hitia O Te Ra

Vahine Ui Api 25-34 yrs
1. COLIE BERBANO of Tevakanui
2. MAKO SAKO of Le Polynesia
3. ANNA MALLARI of Tupua

Vahine Paari 34+ yrs
1. SHEILA KEIKILANI WALSTEAD of Le Polynesia
2. PINKY WRIGHT of Halau 'O Na Ali'i
3. MICHELLE SWANSON of Puahi's Polynesian Dancers

Vahine Paari Ora Toa Tahi
1. NORMA CHEEK of Puahi's Polynesian Dancers

Pupu Otea Amui
1. TEPANIE O PATITIFA

Pupu Otea Tamarii Api
1. LOKELANI'S RHYTHM OF THE ISLANDS of Huntington Beach, CA

Pupu Taurearea Otea
1. NA PUA ILIMA O KEHAULANI of Chula Vista, CA

Pupu Aparima Tamarii Api
1. LOKELANI'S RHYTHM OF THE ISLANDS of Huntington Beach, CA

Kauai Polynesian Festival honors

The 8th Annual Kauai Polynesian Festival took place in Lihue, Hawaii recently. Dance groups participated in not only Tahitian, but also Maori, Hawaiian and Samoan. Results for the Tahitian dance competition are listed below. Other results and information about the event are available on the Kauai Polynesian Festival official website. Event organizers also announced the dates for next years' event - May 21-24, 2009.

TAHITIAN GROUP OTEA
Junior Division
1. Te Hamata of Laie, HI
2. Tiare Ura O Tahiti of Kahuku, HI
3. Te Ea O Te Turama of Oahu, HI

Senior Division
1. Te Hamata of Laie, HI
2. Tiare Ura O Tahiti of Kahuku, HI

TAHITIAN GROUP OTEA BEST COSTUME:
Te Hamata of Laie, HI

TAHITIAN GROUP APARIMA
Junior Division
1. Te Ea O Te Turama of Oahu, HI

Senior Division
1. Te Hamata of Laie, HI

TAHITIAN GROUP APARIMA BEST COSTUME
Te Ea O Te Turama of Oahu, HI

TAHITIAN GROUP AHUPUROTU
Senior Division
1. Ka pa Hula O Pualani Puamelia
2. Te Hamata of Laie, HI
3. Te Ea O Te Turama of Oahu, HI

TAHITIAN DRUMMING COMPETITION:
1. Te Hamata of Laie, HI
2. Manutahi of Wahiawa, HI
3. Te Ea O Te Turama of Oahu, HI

2008 OVERALL TAHITIAN GROUP
1. Te Hamata of Laie, HI

ORI TAHITI SOLOISTS
Junior Division
Tane Ages 4-6
1. Qamdon Josue

Vahine Ages 4-6
1. Jeida Angelina Toilolo
2. Kaylee Tabangay
3. Leleaka Anakalea

Tane Ages 7-9
1. Troy Spacek

Vahine Ages 7-9
1. Tiare Naone Judd
2. Tehani Perkins
3. Dizhae Josue

Tane Ages 10-12
1. Jay Spacek
2. Zacchaus Uta
3. Tamatoa Uta

Vahine Ages 10-12
1. Maeleen Hopeau
2. Cami Keliinui
3. Sandy Hopeau

Senior Division
Tane Ages13-17
1. Moni Tiata
2. Emmsley James K. Drake
3. Rhansyn Leehong

Vahine Ages13-17
1. Chelsea Clement
2. Shayna Lei Soma
3. Lia Kaupoe

Tane Ages 18-21
1. James Taulog
2. Shane Galicia
3. Aaron Dung

Vahine Ages 18-21
1. Kauluwehiokekai Oliver
2. Cavalei Wilson
3. Kelcie Yoman

Tane Ages 22-25
1. Julian Maeva

Vahine Ages 22-25
1. Shaeja Lee
2. Leah Sausen

Tane Ages 26-30
1. Ambrose Aukustino

Vahine Ages 26-30
1. Pualani Avaeoru
2. Shannon Pauoli-Paraan
3. Alma Damo

Tane Ages 31-39
1. William Maycong

Vahine Ages 31-39
1. Belinda Miranda
2. Kehau Aina
3. Tasha Josue

Tane Ages 40 & Over
1. Gene Gabriel

Vahine Ages 40 & Over
1. Louse Sausen

TAHITIAN COUPLES COMPETITION
Junior Division
1. Tehani Perkins & Tamatoa Uta
2. Poerava Lee & Zacchaus Uta

Senior Division
1. Kirsten McCraken & Emmsley James Drake
2. Chelsea Clement & Kai Lee

OVERALL TANE & VAHINE POLYNESIA
2008 Tane Polynesia - Julian Maeva
2008 Vahine Polynesia - Kauluwehiokekai Oliver

Additional information can be found at the Kauai Polynesian Festival official website. Additional reporting at Kauai Garden Island News.