Heiva i Waimea

Get ready Hawaii. The annual Heiva i Waimea, presented and produced by the award-winning Tahitian dance group, Manutahi Tahiti, will once again be hosted by Waimea Valley on the North Shore of Oahu. With the registration packet just being released, dancers can now start registering for the competition.

This is the 5th year of the solo competition event. The event starts with a Tamarii Exhibition, and is followed by the Tamarii/Tamaroa solo competition and finally the Vahine/Tane solo competition. Activities begin at 9:30am and run through the day concluding with an awards ceremony. Soloists will be competing in various age groups and will dance 1-2 1/2 minutes in front of judges and audience.

Sarah Liva
2010 Overall Senior Soloist
Photo by David Shimabukuro

Dancers will need to show their abilities in basic steps, creativity and adaptability to various Tahitian drum beats. The vahine (women) may use various steps and styles including but not limited to: fa’arapu, tairi tamau, afata, varu, nu’u, fa’arapu eraro, and te’i. The tane (men) may use various steps and styles including but not limited to: Paoti, paoti eraro, ruru, faarapu, and afata.

One change that you will see this year is the expansion for the 22-27 age group so an even wider range of soloists can compete. In the past, the cutoff was age 21.

Being in such an inviting tropical botanical garden, it's expected that we'll see some amazing leis and headdresses that compliment the traditional soloist pareu.

Admission to the event is $10. Children 12 & under are $5 each. For more information, contact the event organizer, Pola Teriipaia at (808) 222-4346 / manutahidance@hotmail.com

For those of you who were there last year, here are the results:

Age 5-6 Tamahine
1 Jazzylyn Samuseva of Marania Haoragi
2 Kiana Aniya of HereTama Nui
3 Tiffany Alcos of HereTama Nui

Age 7-8 Tamahine
1 Nicole Graham of Tamatoa
2 Breeze-Makana Agpaoa of Pupu Ote Iti Ra
3 Malia Hokulani Pedro of HereTama Nui

Age 7-8 Tamaroa
1 Kaleb Poniatowski

Age 9-11 Tamahine
1 Vaekehu Parker of Marania Haoragi
2 Kasidy Taylor Vergara of Pupu Ote Iti Ra
3 Kavanoe Keahi of Na Kamalii O Ke Akua


Age 9-11 Tamaroa
1 Reecie Brown of Manutahi Orlando
2 Keoki McGowan of Manutahi Orlando

Age 12-14 Tamahine
1 Sarah Liva of Pupu Ote Iti Ra
2 Cailin-Tiana Sabado of Pupu Ote Iti Ra
3 Breyhanna Agpaoa of Pupu Ote Iti Ra

Age 12-14 Tamaroa
1 Kaiko Gouveia of HereTama Nui
2 Taleon Lele of Kalena's Polynesian Ohana

Age 15-17 Vahine
1 Joesalyn Aguindaldo of Te Vai Ura Nui
2 Naomi Baldomero of Te Vai Ura Nui
3 Angela Jeanell Cezar of Tiare Ura O Tahiti

Age 18-21 Vahine
1 Alexa Ashley Cezar of Tiare Ura O Tahiti
2 Burgundy Keriseano of Fiere De Tahiti
3 Kayleen Kamali'I Wahine Bradshaw of Fiere De Tahiti


Miss Heiva I Waimea 2010
Tiane Kong of Manutahi Orlando

Overall Junior Soloist
Reecie Brown of Manutahi Orlando

Overall Senior Soloist
Sarah Liva of Pupu Ote Iti Ra

Photos from last years' event are available on David Shimabukuro's website, 1 Moment in Time.

Heiva I Waimea solo competition and pageant

The deadline is approaching fast for competing at Heiva I Waimea. Applications need to be in by April 15th. Late registration is possible but additional fees apply. Entry forms for both soloists and the Miss Heiva I Waimea title may be downloaded here.

Heiva I Waimea

This will be the fourth year of the event that has taken place at Waimea Valley on Oahu. The dance group Manutahi Tahiti, led by ra'atira Pola Teriipaia, has produced the event that features tamari'i (children), both tamahine and tamaroa, and dancers up to 21 years of age. Soloists compete by performing to Tahitian drumming.

Miss Heiva I Waimea contestants must be between the ages of 12-21, unmarried and without children. Contestants will be judged on talent, costume, and formal wear. Entry fee is $35 per individual.

For more information or questions, please contact Tess DeCorte (Promotions/Marketing) of Manutahi Tahiti.

Heiva i Waimea crowns two

Te E'a O Te Turama, led by ra'atira Maile Lee, walked away with 10 awards at the 3rd Annual Heiva i Waimea including the overall group title. The event took place this past Sunday, April 19, at Waimea Valley. Soloists from several local groups participated and competed in age groups ranging from 5-25 years.

The setting amid the lush greenery was perfect for crowning a new Ms. Heiva i Waimea and the competition was close. So close that it resulted in not one, but two vahine being crowned. Tanya Cadiente (pictured left), of 'Otea Kia Manu and Teare Zick-Mariteragi, of Te Vai Ura Nui tied for the title. Contestants were judged on a Tahitian culture talent, costume and formal dress. Congratulations to both for doing a great job of showing poise, grace, talent and being an example to younger aspiring girls.

Producer Pola Teriipaia of Manutahi Tahiti, was thrilled with the turnout and reminded all the dancers that they were all winners by portraying the Tahitian culture and taking part in the event.

We have to admit we missed most of the event not realizing that most of the competition would be occuring early on. Lesson learned. Anyway, here are the results:

Age 5-6 Tamahine
1. Azariah Coleman of Marania Haorangi
2. Nicole Graham of Te E'a O Te Turama
3. Sa'ili Williams of 'Otea Kia Mana

Age 7-8 Tamahine
1. Poliahu Sunny Aina of Te E'a O Te Turama
2. Amaya Joy Panajon of Pupu Ote Iti Ra
3. Chloe' Dominge of Tiare Ura O Tahiti

Age 7-8 Tamaroa
1. Alex Kekua of Otea Kia Mana

Age 9-11 Tamahine
1. Poerava Lee of Te E'a O Te Turama
2. Shandy Hopeau of Tiare Ura O Tahiti
3. Clarke (Ah-Yoka) Cailing of Pupu Ote Iti Ra

Age 9-11 Tamaroa
1. Tamatoa Uta of Te E'a O Te Turama
2. Kaiko Gouveia of Heretama Nui

Age 12-14 Vahine
1. Ashlen Kiniiau - Independent
2. Ciera Dutro of Pupu Ote Iti Ra
3. Shanelle Ramelb of Pupu Ote Iti Ra

Age 12-14 Tane
Zacchaeas Uta of Te E'a O Te Turama

Age 15-17 Vahine
1. Alexa-Ashley Cezar of Tiare Ura O Tahiti
2. Raquel Fernando of Napua O Lokelani Polynesian Revue
3. Kalei Onzuka of Maohi Nui

Age 15-17 Tane
1. Kainalu Lee of Te E'a O Te Turama

Age 18-21 Vahine
1.Janice Vidad of Pupu Ote Iti Ra
2. Tanya Cadiente of 'Otea Kia Mana

Age 22-25 Vahine
1. Shannon Paraan-Kahalepauo of Marania Haorangi
2. Olive Tuitasi Morano of Maohi Nui
3. Nalani Nahinu of Marania Haorangi

Junior Couple
Dizsae Josue/Zachias Uta of Te E'a O Te Turama

Senior Couple
Poerava Lee/Kai Lee of Te E'a O Te Turama

Overall Junior Soloist
Poerava Lee of Te E'a O Te Turama

Overall Senior Soloist
Janice Vidad of Pupu Ote Iti Ra

Ms. Heiva
Tanya Cadiente of 'Otea Kia Mana
Teare Zick-Mariteragi of Te Vai Ura Nui

Overall Group
Te E'a O Te Turama
Maile Lee - Honolulu HI

Manutahi Tahiti Competition

Things are moving ahead on this year's Manutahi Tahiti competition. With little over a month until the event, entry forms are now available online on the official website. The 3rd annual event will be taking place on Sunday, April 19, 2009 at Waimea Valley on the North Shore of Oahu.

Activities include the Tamarii/Tamaroa solo competition, the Mister and Miss Heiva Pageant, the Vahine/Tane solo competition, Couples’ competition, a dance off for the overall title and concluding with the awards presentation. The competition begins at 8:30 am and runs throughout the day. Group admission rates are available for advance purchase and day of event. General admission to the event is $7, children 5-11 - $5. Price does not include admission to Waimea Valley park.

For more information, refer to the offical website, email or contact Pola Teriipaia (222-4346) or Alma Damo (promotions/marketing) (542-4480)