15th Annual Heiva I Kaua`i Iaorana Tahiti, August 6 and 7, 2016 at Kapa`a Beach Park on Kauai’s east shore
This cultural festival offers an immersion into the worlds of Polynesian music, dance and costuming with group and solo dance competitions and performances.
Heiva I Kaua’i was established to perpetuate and promote authentic Tahitian and Polynesian cultural traditions in Hawaii through sponsorship of the highest quality Tahitian dance and drumming competition, and to provide the next generation of Polynesian entertainers a venue to show talent and develop expertise and self-confidence in music, dance, choreography, costume design, and overall presentation. Tahitian and Hawaiian cultural specialists are competition judges, advisors and exhibition performers.
Founder Tepairu Manea, is a Tahitian drummer and instrument maker who has taught Tahitian drumming to children and adults throughout Hawaiʻi and Saipan. His desire to share his culture is rooted, he says, in a desire to kokua, to help one another. “We have to share and pass on the knowledge” he says. Tahitian drumming is a foundation which inspires dance, costumes, creativity and involves helping hands working together building a stronger community in many ways.
Festival participants will enjoy two full days of unique Tahitian entertainment, Polynesian cultural craft demonstrations, a photographer’s dream with Fire Knife exhibitions and audience Tahitian dance and coconut husking contests and an array of Polynesian arts & crafts for sale, ono local foods and silent auction daily.
Admission is $6 a day at the gate, children age 6 and under are free. Gates open at 9am.
This event is ADA accessible. Persons in need of auxiliary aid to participate, please call 808-822-9447 at least 5 days before the event.
The Heiva is grateful to the many volunteers and sponsors including Hawaii Tourism Authority, County of Kauai, Kapaa Rotary, Geico and Kauai Nursery and Landscaping.
Photos available upon request by contacting Pat Finberg, Media Coordinator, njoynkauai@hawaii.rr.com or 808-823-8464.
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