Tamarii Tahiti Fete of Orlando 2009 results

The 2009 Tamarii Tahiti Fete, produced by Isitolo Oloa, took place March 28, last month in Orlando, Florida. The event showcased soloists from mostly the East coast of the US. Dancers as far as Texas, Virginia, Illinois and North Carolina joined in with local dancers in the Orlando area. The overall Junior soloist title went to Cheyenne Sky Romanillos and the overall Senior soloist title went to Marshae Bray Mamea of Siva A Manu. Overall group honors went to Manutahi Orlando led by Mahea Apo and a sister group to Pola Teriipaia's Manutahi groups in Hawaii.

For more information and gallery for the event, visit the official website. Additionally, videos may be seen in several locations including YouTube.

2009 Tamarii Tahiti Fete results

Age 3-5 Vahine
1. Marnessa Mageo, Independent
2. Hinanui Swider of Manutahi Orlando
3. Alyssa Murphy of Halau 'O Manulani

Age 6-8 Vahine
1. Emalia Natea Beltran of Hula Halau O Kuulani
2. Giana Leapai-Jimenez, Independent
3. Leilani Swider of Manutahi Orlando

Age 6-8 Tane
1. Reecie Brown of Manutahi Orlando
2. Rendon Reddoch of Manutahi Texas

Age 9-12 Vahine
1. Cheyenne Sky Romanillos, Independent
2. Tiane Maluhia Kong of Manutahi Orlando
3rd Place: Natalie Oloa, Independent

Age 9-12 Tane
1. Kadence Reddoch of Manutahi Texas

Age 13-16 Vahine
1. Marshae Bray Mamea of Siva A Manu
2. Giovawnni Brown of Manutahi Orlando
3. Alapa'i Kiaha of Hula Halau O Kuulani

Age 17-22 Vahine
1. Grace Cabusi of Manutahi Orlando
2. Sarah Elorpe of Halau Kahealani
3. Jerly Asunto of Na Opiopio I Orlando

Age 23+ Vahine
1. Oe Sualua of Tupua Productions
2. Seborah Lamkin of Halau 'O Manulani
3. Tua "Fabulicious" Mamea of Siva A Manu

Age 23+ Tane
1. Patrick Makoa Foronda of Halau Kahealani

Overall Junior Soloist
Cheyenne Romanillos, Independent

Overall Senior Soloist
Marshae Bray Mamea of Siva A Manu

Best Costume
Seborah Lampkin of Halau 'O Manulani

Overall Group
Manutahi Orlando
Mahea Apo - Orlando, FL

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

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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)

Tamari'i Tahiti Fete 2008 - Orlando, Florida

Event organizers Isitolo Oloa and Evelyn Oloa have advised us of some details about the 3rd Annual Tamarii Tahiti Fete. The competition is to be held at Oak Ridge High School Gymnasium on March 29, 2008. This year, competition will be open to all ages. 2007 overall soloist Laarni Fronda (left) will be defending her title among a wider range of ages and competitors.

Visit the official Tamarii Tahiti Fete of Orlando website for details and information about participating and becoming vendors and sponsors.

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.

Tamari'i Tahiti Fete

Guest writers Isitolo and Evelyn Oloa,
organizers of the The Tamari'i Tahiti.

Ia Orana!

Thanks for all of the help that you have given us! The Tamari'i Tahiti Fete was very successful bringing in more competitors and spectators than the previous year. We had groups come in from North Carolina, Illinois, Pennsylvania and all across the state of Florida. The competition was tough as all of the soloists raised their standards leaving a tie for first place in the 9-12 age division and only a difference of a few points for the title of 'Overall Perpetual Soloist'. Cheyenne Sky Romanillos took home most trophies including 'Best Costume', but it was Laarni Fronda who claimed her title for the second year in a row as 'Overall Perpetual Soloist' winning with the highest amount of points. This means she can keep the O.P.S. trophy. (If you win this title you are allowed to keep it for a small period of time but it must be returned. You may only keep the trophy if you win the title two years in a row.)

Special appearances were made by the winners of all divisions of the PCC World Fire Knife Dance Championships: Rex Tiumalu (winner of the Pee Wee Division), V.J. Tiumalu (winner of the Intermediate Division), and Mikaele Oloa (2 time champion of the Senior Division and youngest competitor to ever win the title). They were also part of the house drummers.

If you need anymore information, please just let us know. We are having our web designer update the entire website. So, it will have a brand new look and updated information and photos. Thank you again for all of your help!

Maruruuru,
Isitolo and Evelyn Oloa

Updates for Tahitian Dance Events

Looking at the coming months we're starting to see increased activity and updates on Tahitian dance event websites. One of the biggest changes is a change in date for the Heiva International I Tahiti 2007, not to mention an official name for the event. The event will be held in Papeete Tahiti, on the week of July 23-28 at the To'ata arena, home of the Heiva I Tahiti. Because of a change in government leadership, a date change was necessary to accommodate the new agenda set forth by the new administration.

Information about the event, calendar, applications and other information about getting there are available on Tahiti Nui International's website. In the past, the organizers have produced the Heiva I Honolulu. This year however, it's taken all their efforts to organize the event in Tahiti and weren't able to hold the event in Honolulu. Event organizers have announced that the event will return in 2008 to Honolulu and possibly Tahiti as well.

This week also marks the beginning of the 2007 Heiva season. With Heiva being held in not one but two venues. First off is the Merced Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete. The Merced event is the longest running event in the US. The event runs from March 16-18, 2007 and the competition will be held at the Merced County Fairgrounds. Event activities include the Maeva Merced Pageant (Mr. and Miss Maeva Merced), solo and group competition in aparima, otea and ahuroa. The event will close with exhibitions by tamari'i (children). Go to their website for ticket information and assistance.

The 2007 Tamari'i Tahiti Fete is also happening this weekend. Taking place in Orlando, Florida, this is the second year of this event. The event highlights tamari'i (children) from 3-16 years old. More information is available on their website.

Another change in schedule is the Manutahi Tahiti event in Honolulu, Hawaii. Originally scheduled for April 27-28, 2007, this event has been moved to October. More details as they become available.

Lastly, July 6-7, 2007 are the confirmed dates for the Polynesian Cultural Center's Te Mahana Hiro'a o Tahiti competition.