RED RAIDERS REPEAT AS OVERALL WINNERS AT POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER'S SAMOAN CULTURAL ARTS FESTIVAL
Nearly 3,000 Attendees Filled Pacific Theater with Samoan Pride and Excitement
La'ie – High school students from throughout Oahu gathered today at the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) to show off their knowledge and skills of Samoa's cultural traditions at the 2007 Samoan Cultural Arts Festival, but it was Kahuku High School that proved they know it best this year when they returned to capture the overall title again. Second place went to Radford High School and Waipahu High School took third.
More than 600 students took part representing nine high schools, including teams comprised of students from Farrington and Moanalua, as well as Leilehua and Mililani. Other schools included Kahuku, Kapolei, Moanalua, Radford and Waipahu.
The competition also featured a special presentation and performance by Tui Pule and the United Samoa Organization of Hawaii (USOH) featuring the 2006 Miss Lelalelei O Samoa and candidates for the 2007 pageant to be held in July. USOH returned again this year as the sponsor for the Taupo, or princess dance category, with a gift of $800. Along with the World Fireknife Dance Championships, the Samoan Cultural Arts Festival is a premier event of the Samoa Festival, which concludes tonight.
It was a packed house in the PCC's Pacific Theater with the capacity audience of 2,775 cheering wildly throughout the competition. "This is the first time we've had so many schools join us for this event," said Delsa Moe, emcee and director of cultural presentations for the PCC. "It's so exciting to see the kids at the schools gather together to share their pride in the Samoan culture and celebrate its traditions through the various events and activities."
The high school students worked together as teams in exciting cultural competitions that tested their expertise at traditional Samoan skills like coconut husking, basket weaving, and banana peeling. They also demonstrated their Samoan oratorical talents, musicianship, and mastery of traditional dances. Kahuku High School was judged the overall winner based on its cumulative performance in all the competitions.
Sponsors for the Samoa Arts Festival included Electric Pencil, Hawaiian Airlines, United Samoan Organization of Hawaii and Turtle Bay Resort. The high school awards included cash prizes and trophies for the various tasks and dances.
Visit the PCC website at http://www.polynesia.com for images and updates for the Samoa Festival and see the results of the 15th Annual World Fireknife Dance Competition.
Since its beginning in 1963, the Polynesian Cultural Center has entertained more than 33 million visitors by preserving the spirit and cultures of Polynesia. The weeklong festivities of the Samoa Festival conclude tonight with the crowning of the World Fireknife Dance Champion.
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