SIXTH YEAR SET FOR WHAKATAETAE MAORI SONG AND DANCE COMPETITION AT THE POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER
This Year’s Competition Will Feature Groups from New Zealand
La‘ie, HI: Traditional music and dance from New Zealand take the stage once more at the Polynesian Cultural Center’s 6 th Annual Whakataetae Maori Song and Dance Competition. Groups from Hawaii and Utah will compete from Friday, August 5 through Saturday, August 6, and be joined by special exhibition performances by groups from New Zealand.
The competition kicks off Friday, August 5, at 6:00 p.m. with a Powhiri (gathering of all participants) and continues from 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the Korero (speech) competition in the PCC’s Hale Ohana, while the group competition begins Saturday, August 6, at 9 a.m. in the Pacific Theater.
The group competition is split into two divisions: ages five through 13 are eligible to compete in the Junior division, performers 14 years or older will compete in the Senior division. Competition categories include: Whakaeke (Entrance), Moteatea (Chant), Haka, Poi Balls, and Whakawatea (Exit). The Junior division will also have a special Te Korero (Maori Speech) competition. Monetary gifts will be awarded to each division’s winners.
Judges from New Zealand will grade the competitors on their skills in singing, dancing, chanting and speaking.
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Regular kama‘aina admission to the song and dance competition is $6 for children ages 3-11 and $8 for adults with proof of Hawaii residency. Annual Pass holders get in free. General admission tickets start at just $30 for adults and $25 for children. Purchase of a Whakataetae Competition ticket allows for admittance to the Center for the rest of the day and an IMAX™ film, excluding meals and the Horizons night show. Keiki are invited to check out the new Passport to Polynesia for even more fun during their visit at the PCC. For more information or reservations, please call 800-367-7060, or in Hawai‘i call 293-3333, or visit www.Polynesia.com.
Founded in 1963 as a non-profit organization, the PCC has entertained more than 31 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 14,000 young people from more than 70 different countries while they have attended Brigham Young University-Hawai‘i. 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.
