Sunday, July 18, 2010

Heiva I Kauai readying for up and coming groups

Get ready for the 9th Annual Heiva I Kauai. Set in Kapa'a, Kauai, the Tahitian dance competition produced by Manea and Jo Tepairu, is returning to Kapa'a Beach Park over the July 31-August 1, 2010 weekend. The competition features both soloists and groups and also a competitive drumming category as well.

Soloists will compete in age groups for the vahine and tane titles. Groups will compete in several categories including Ote'a, Aparima, Ahupurotu, Drumming, and Music.

"We have two "up-and-coming" young local groups that are working very hard to enter group competition this year that we are very excited about. That is what our Heiva is all about...growing the next generation of Tahitian dancers and musicians and providing the venue for them to gain expertise and confidence." organizer Jo Tepairu explained in recent correspondence.

Another exciting aspect unique to this competition is the apprentice program. She goes on to explain "We also have an apprentice judge program that was started last year with two young people whom we hope to have return for more training this year."

Cathy Teriipaia will once again return as the Master of Ceremonies this year. Her father, Papi Teriipaia, a frequent advisor and judge, will once again supervise the coconut husking competition which was started last year.

On Saturday morning, a traditional welcoming ceremony will start the festivities. Gates open to the public at 9 AM and the solo competition begins at 10 AM. Group competition schedules will depend on the number of entries.

On Sunday, gates open at 9 AM and exhibition dancing begins at 10 AM with group competition continuing. Sunday will end with solo, group and drumming award presentations.

Festival participants will enjoy a weekend of great Tahitian entertainment, browse through an array of Polynesian arts and crafts, observe and participate in creating Polynesian crafts, savor delicious local foods and participate in dance and coconut husking contests.

Admission is $5 a day at the door. Children age 6 and under are free.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Group Results for Tahiti Fete of San Jose

The 2010 Tahiti Fete of San Jose took place over the July 4th weekend at the San Jose State University Campus. The sold out event featured Tahitian dance groups from the greater California area and included dance workshops, drumming workshops, and cultural workshops.

Competition occurs in two group categories. Generally Hura Ava Tau groups are any small, new, or amateur group with a minimum of five (5) dancers; has never placed First in any major Heiva competition as a professional group. A Hura Tau group is any established professional or long-time Tahitian dance group with a minimum of five (5) dancers.

Photos of the event courtesy of Chad Makaio. Visit his Facebook page for more photos including the above photo and the current front page feature.

In each group category, are the different competition areas - aparima, ahuroa, ote'a, drumming, music, costume, and ra'atira.

This year, defending title holder, Nonosina placed in many categories including the Ori Rau (modern interpretation) award, but it was Te Pura O Te Rahura'a of South San Francisco and led by ra'atira Marilou Ubaldo that came away with the Overall Hura Tau Group award. The group was the 2008 Hura Ava Tau Overall group and moved up to the Hura Tau level this year. Lake Forest group Le Polynesia, led by Guy Keala and Lori Lei Montgomery was awarded the 2010 Hura Ava Tau group award.

Group Results for the 2010 Tahiti Fete of San Jose

Hura Tau Otea

1 Manuia of Daly City CA
2 Te Pura O Te Rahura’a of South San Francisco CA
3 No Te Here o Te Hiroa of Fresno CA

Hura Tau Aparima
1 Manuia - Daly City, CA
2 No Te Here o Te Hiroa – Fresno, CA
3 Da Island Way of Concord CA

Hura Tau Ahuroa
1 Nonosina of Anaheim CA
2 Te Pura o Te Rahura’a of South San Francisco CA
3 Manuia of Daly City CA

Tupuna Ahuroa
1 Manuia of Daly City CA
2 Ka Ua Tuahine of Oakland CA
3 Ehulani's Otea of Hayward CA


Hura Ava Tau Otea

1 Tamari’i Mata’irea of Stockton CA
2 Le Polynesia of Aliso Viejo CA
3 Makamae Melia o Polynesia of Elk Gove CA

Hura Ava Tau Aparima
1 Tamari’i Mata’irea of Stockton CA
2 Kaleo’Onalani of San Diego CA
3 Le Polynesia of Aliso Viejo CA

Hura Ava Tau Ahuroa
1 Tamari’i Maita’irea of Stockton CA
2 Te Pura o Te Rahura’a of South San Francisco CA
3 Here Hau of Hercules CA


Ori Rau Otea
1 Nonosina of Anaheim CA
2 Kaleo’Onalani of San Diego CA

Tamarii Otea
1 Manuia – Daly City CA
2 Te Pura o Te Rahura’a of South San Francisco CA
3 No Te Here o Te Hiroa of Fresno CA


Tamarii Aparima
1 Te Pura o Te Rahura’a of South San Francisco CA
2 Nonosina of Anaheim CA
3 Tamari’i Mata’irea of Stockton CA

Hura Tau Drumming
1 Ia Ora o Tahiti Nui of Honolulu HI
2 Nemenzo of Daly City CA
3 Te Pura o Te Rahura’a of South San Francisco CA

Hura Tau Music
1 Nonosina of Anaheim CA
2 No Te Here o Te Hiroa of Fresno CA
3 Da Island Way of Concord CA


Hura Ava Tau Drumming
1 LeiIsa of San Diego CA
2 Tamali’i O Lumana’i of Hayward CA
3 Le Polynesia of Aliso Viejo CA

Hura Tau Music
1 Tamari’i Maita’irea of Stockton CA
2 Le Polynesia of Aliso Viejo CA
3 Makamae Melia o Polynesia of Elk Gove CA


Overall
Hura Tau – Te Pura o Te Rahura’a
Hura Ava Tau – Le Polynesia
Ori Rau - Nonosina

Wednesday, July 07, 2010

128th Heiva I Tahiti - Te Anuanua

The theme of this years' Heiva I Tahiti is - Te Anuanua - The rainbow, the bridge between men and the gods, between heaven and earth. The 128th annual event encompasses both cultural and sporting events throughout French Polynesia. It serves to bring together the islands and its people through song, dance and sport.

Last week marked a cultural and symbolic beginning of the month long festival. Award-winning group O Tahiti E, led by raatira Marguerite Lai, presented a pageant entitled "Vaka Arioi" which reenacted the role that the arioi played in ancient Tahiti. In ancient times the arioi entertained the arii (royalty).

Tomorrow evening, the reigning Heiva Nui awarding-winning group Hei Tahiti, under the direction of Tiare Trompette, will be featured in a program honoring the late Henri Hiro, a noted poet, teacher, filmmaker, pastor, and activist and the founder of l'Office Territorial d'Action Culturelle.

In contrast to last years' dance competition, just one group, Hitireva (Kehaulani Chanquy) will be performing in the Heiva Nui division. The group was last years' Heiva division winner and as such was moved up into the Heiva Nui division. The main division to watch this year will be the Heiva division. Participating groups include: HURA TAHITI NUI, NOHOARII (Xavier Nonoh), TOAKURA (Mateata Legayic), MANAHAU (Jean-Marie BIRET), AVAI'URA NO HUAHINE (Leila Darles-Lai), TOROMIKI AUOROTINI NO RIKITEA (Dany Paheo), and FARE IHI NO HUAHINE (Paul Tehare).

Here is the tentative program for the dance and song competition taking place at Place Toata. Activities will be running from July 5-23 with awards being announced on July 22.

More information at the Heiva Nui event website may be available. The July 2010 edition of Hiroa also has more information and may be downloaded at the publication website as a pdf file. The document is in French.


HEIVA I TAHITI 2010
PROGRAM

Thursday, July 8, 2010
19:00 - NIGHT SPECIAL

Friday, July 9, 2010
19.00 - Dance: Category HEIVA: HURA TAHITI NUI

20:00 - Songs: tarava Tahiti tamarii Matai

20:30 - Songs: tarava Raromatai: NO FANATICS tamarii AABF

21.00 - Dance: Category HEIVA NUI: HITIREVA

Saturday, July 10, 2010
19.00 - Dance: Category HEIVA: NOHOARII

20.00 - Songs: tarava Tahiti Nui VAIARII

20.30 - Songs: tarava Raromatai: VAIHOATAUA

21h00-Dances: Category HEIVA: TOAKURA

Friday, July 16, 2010
19.00 - Dance: Category HEIVA FARE IHI NO HUAHINE

20:00 - Songs: tarava Tahiti tamarii TEAHUPOO

20.30 - Dance: 21:30 - songs: tarava Raromatai: Ateh

22.00 - Dance: Category HEIVA: MANAHAU

Saturday, July 17, 2010
19:00 - Songs: tarava Tahiti tamarii PAPARA

19:30 - Dance HEIVA Category: TAVAI'URA NO HUAHINE

20:30 - Songs: tarava Tahiti: Ass. Tamarii NO Papeari

21:00 - Songs: tarava Raromatai FARE IHI NO HUAHINE

21.30 - Dance: Category HEIVA: TOROMIKI AUOROTINI NO Rikitea

Thursday, July 22, 2010
EVENING OF AWARDS
Friday, July 23, 2010
NIGHT OF THE WINNERS OF HEIVA I TAHITI 2010