TE MAHANA HIRO‘A O TAHITI FESTIVAL CONCLUDES AT THE POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER
Tehamata And Manutahi Dominate Group Competition
La'ie, HI - The hau skirts swished and the drums beat as another year celebrating the Tahitian culture at the Polynesian Cultural Center's 6th Annual Te Mahana Hiro'a O Tahiti festival. Newcomer group from Laie, Tehamata, dominated the tamarii division (ages 3-11) and Manutahi from Wahiawa won three of the five taure'are'a division (ages 12-18) categories.
Tahitian dancers ranging from ages 3 to 18 participated in the two-day competition, which began on Friday, July 14, with more than 100 solo competitors, and ended Saturday, July 15, with only a few crowned the best.
Other Tahitian cultural activities, including dance workshops, were held throughout the week in the PCC's Tahitian Village to highlight the beauty and excitement of the islands for guests.
Tehamata's ra'atira, or leader, Penny Toilolo led her tamarii group to first place honors in the ote'a and second place in the aparima categories to earn the highest group score overall. Wahiawa's Manutahi, led by Pola Teriipaia, was returned to show why it has been a three-time champion in the past by taking top honors in the Ote'a, Hivinau and Pa'o'a categories. Nonosina Hawaii, led by John and Tiani Maritergi of Laie, won the group aparima/ahupurotu for both the tamarii and taure'are'a divisions.
Dayna Higa of Manutahi won the overall vahine, or female, solo dance award in the senior group as well as top honors in the 14 to 15-year-old solo dance category. LJ Mariteragi of Nonosina Hawaii won the overall senior tane, or male, solo dance competition and the 14 to 15-year-old solo dance category.
Chloe Pojas of Manutahi won the overall junior female solo dance award, as well as the 7 to 8-year-old solo dance category. Nonosina Hawaii's Teancum Kaitoku took the top honors for the junior male solo dance category, and the 7 to 8-year-old solo dance category. (See list of winners below.)
Saturday's events also included the group ote'a and aparima competitions. The ote'a is the best-known Tahitian style of dance because of the fast, rhythmic movements and swishing Hau skirts. The aparima, literally translated as "kiss of the hands," is a slower dance that uses the hands to tell a story similar to the Hawaiian hula. Dancers were judged in each category based on their skill, grace and, for the ote'a, speed.
"We started the event six years ago as a way to help preserve these aspects of Tahitian culture and heritage through the tamarii, or children," said Raymond Mariteragi, director of cultural presentations for the Tahitian village at the PCC. "We timed it to coincide with the annual heiva held in Papeete, Tahiti, to pay tribute to our culture. Since we started this competition, we've seen a lot more interest in hosting Tahiti fÍtes and starting dance groups in Hawai'i. We encourage everyone to join in and learn."
Founded in 1963 as a non-profit organization, the PCC has entertained more than 33 million visitors while preserving and portraying the culture, arts, and crafts of Polynesia to the rest of the world. In addition, the PCC has provided financial assistance to 15,000 young people from more than 70 different countries while they have attended Brigham Young University-Hawaii. As a non-profit organization, all funds generated by the PCC are used for its daily operations and to support its cultural and educational missions.
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TE MAHANA HIRO'A O TAHITI
2006 Results
Participating Groups/Ra'atira
* Manutahi (Pola Teriipaia of Wahiawa)
* Nonosina Hawaii (Jon & Tiani Mariteragi of La'ie)
* Marania Haoragi (Tahia Parker of Kalihi)
* Tiare Ura o Tahiti (Jerrold Martinez of Hau'ula)
* Maohi Nui (Mervyn Lilo of Moanalua)
* Pupu O Te Iti Ra (Jason Mokulehua & Allea Mokulehua of Waianae)
* Te Ori Nui (Christen K. Obedoza of Pearl City)
* Te Ori Maohi o Tulipa (Leaoto and Amosa Savini of Waianae)
* Te Ranga Tahi (Kamaile Vienna of Aiea)
* Te Hamata (Penny Toilolo of La'ie)
GROUP COMPETITION
Tamarii Division Results
Group O'tea
1. Tehamata
Group Hivinau
1. Tehamata
Group Pa'o'a
1. Tehamata
Group Aparima/Ahupurotu
1. Nonosina Hawaii
Taure'are'a Division Results
Group O'tea
1. Manutahi
2. Nonosina Hawaii
Group Hivinau
1. Manutahi
2. Nonosina Hawaii
Group Pa'o'a
1. Manutahi
2. Nonosina Hawaii
Group Aparima/Ahupurotu
1. Nonosina Hawaii
2. Manutahi
3. Marania Te Haoragi
SOLO COMPETITION
TAMARII (AGE 2-11) OVERALL WINNERS
Vahine (Female)
Chloe Pojas, Manutahi
Tane (Male)
Teancum Kaitoku, Nonosina Hawaii
TAURE'ARE'A (AGE 12-18) OVERALL WINNERS
Vahine
Dayna Higa, Manutahi
Tane
L.J. Mariteragi, Nonosina Hawaii
2006 SOLO COMPETITION RESULTS TAMARII DIVISION (Ages 3-11)
Vahine
Age 3-4
1. Kaylee Tabangay
2. Kelsea Jiminez
3. Kanoe Navarez
Age 5-6
1. Chaylynn Navares
2. Teeya Le'i
3. Shawny Brum
Age 7-8
1. Chloe Pojas
2. Sharae Niu
3. Star Alcosiba
Age 9-11
1. Macy Parajon
2. Ciera Duaro
3. Sydney Pere
Tane
Age 3-4
1. Kwinton Ho Ching
2. Mykle Keni
3. Teagan Kaitoku
Age 5-6
1. Lance Reid
2. Troy Spacek
3. Micah Mariteragi
Age 7-8
1. Teancum Kaitoku
2. Jordan Mariteragi
3. Turi Kekuaokalani
Age 9-11
1. Keri Reid
2. Kameron Ho Ching
3. Kamaka Premacio
2006 SOLO COMPETITION RESULTS TAURE'ARE'A DIVISION (Ages 12-18)
Vahine
Age 12-13
1. Charzelle McAngus
2. Chelsea Clement
3. Raychelle Aquino
Age 14-15
1. Dayna Higa
2. Weatherly Grace
3. Monique Orton
Age 16-18
1. Janice Vidah
2. Ronjelynn Brack
3. Dara Gonzalez
Tane
Age 12-13
1. Ransen LeeHong
2. Dylan Aretipa
3. Joshua Soransan
Age 14-15
1. LJ Mariteragi (only competitor)
Age 16-18
1. Toa Leiataua
2. Wesley Akeli
3. Wesley Sorensen
