KAPA‘A — Te ‘E‘a o te Turama, a halau out of Kane‘ohe, O‘ahu, finished the two-day 2009 Heiva I Kaua‘i by taking the overall championship, Sunday, at Kapa‘a Beach Park. En route to pulling in the overall title, the Kane‘ohe
KAPA‘A — Te ‘E‘a o te Turama, a halau out of Kane‘ohe, O‘ahu, finished the two-day 2009 Heiva I Kaua‘i by taking the overall championship, Sunday, at Kapa‘a Beach Park.
En route to pulling in the overall title, the Kane‘ohe halau placed nine contestants in the top three out of 29 awards distributed in the solo competition.
That included first place finishes in the 4-6 male, 4-6 female, 7-9 female, 10-12 female, 16-18 male and 16-18 female age group categories.
Te ‘E‘a o te Turama, finishing second to Manutahi, a group out of Wahiawa, O‘ahu, in the otea competition, went on to take top honors in the aparima and ahupurotu classes.
The competitive dance and drumming was the highlight of the two-day event that celebrated its eighth anniversary since co-founders Tepairu Manea and Stella Miyoshi started the festival after the Tahiti Fete stopped.
“We wanted the Tahitian festival to continue so we got a group of people together to keep the tradition going,” Miyoshi said.
In addition to the dance competition, Miyoshi said there were more than 20 vendors offering a variety of merchandise, but centering around Tahitian goods.
“We had one vendor from the Big Island and five specializing in Tahitian goods from O‘ahu,” the Heiva vice president said.
To round out the offering, several crafters offered demonstration and hands-on presentations in lei, wood carving, coconut frond weaving and Tahitian drumming.
Manea is the president of the Heiva committee. He is joined by Jo Manea, the assistant director, Olinda Higashi, the secretary and coordinator for the food booth, and Ray Carpenter, treasurer.
Sarah and Shirlee Kaneholani handled coordinating the vendors and Cathy Periipaia was the hostess for the two days of competition and education.
Aug. 1-2, 2009
Kapa‘a Beach Park
Overall Champion
Te ‘E‘a o te Turama
Group Competition
Drumming
1. Manutahi
2. Tamatea Nui o Kaua‘i
Ahupurotu
1. Te ‘E‘a o te Turama
2. Ori Uvira of Kapa‘a
Aparima
Te ‘E‘a o te Turama
Otea
1. Manutahi
2. Te ‘E‘a o te Turama
3. Tamatea Nui o Kaua‘i
Solo Competition
4-6 male: Qamdon Josue
4-6 female: 1. Nicole Graham, 2. Taylor Acosta, 3. Jayda Candelaria
7-9 male: Oviri Avaeoru-Villatora
7-9 female: 1. Jade Anton, 2. Tia Takasaki, 3. Sophia Rivera
10-12 male: 1. Manuel Trujillo, 2. Tamatoa Uta, Kainoah Ferris
10-12 female: Poerava Lee, 2. Caramia Kricken, 3. Tahra-Leo Kaui
13-15 male: 1. Emmsley Drake, 2. Zacchaus Uta, 3. Kamuela Ferris
13-15 female: 1. Tara Teriipaia, 2. Pii Matias, 3. Victoria Rivera
16-18 male: 1. Kainalu Tolentino, 2. Ranson Lee Hong
16-18 female: 1. Chelsea Clement, 2. Kalei Onzuka, 3. Jessy Lasala
19-25 male: 1. Julian Maeva, 2. Mikaele Oloa
19-25 female: 1.Lani Figaroa, 2. Candace Laamea, 3. Keane Camanse
26-39 male: 1. Nicolas Kaneakua, 2. William Maycong, 3. Mahiai Kekumu
26-39 female: 1. Shannon Daliva, 2. Marie Kricken
40-plus male: Lawakua Gabriel
40-plus female: Anuenue Mose
Visit TGI online
to watch video
of the heiva
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com
