From the Solo Competition held Thursday, March 21, 2013, we move gracefully to the Awards Ceremony being held today, Friday, March 22, 2013 at the Waikiki Shell.

Mike Bambi photos here...  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.583734624978346.1073741846.100000254418146&type=1

The Ceremony is scheduled for 2:30pm today, shortly after the lunch break, where competitors in yesterday's elimination rounds and final round were vying for champion, second, and third place awards.  Yesterday's solo rounds portrayed the best in tahitian dance outside of French Polynesia with representatives from dance schools from Japan, the mainland USA and Hawaii.  The first place finishers will compete yet again on Saturday, March 23, 2013 at 11:00am for the titles of Best Male and Best Female solo dancer at Heiva I Honolulu 2013 and will be awarded a roundtrip air and hotel to Tokyo, Japan to perform at Heiva I Japan 2013 in September.

Drumming groups will be competing similarly, for the chance for five of their team members to travel to Japan to perform as house drummers of Heiva I Japan 2013.  Group events begin today, Friday, March 22, 2013 with most Hura Ava Tau (Jr.) groups performing, one Hura Tau (Sr.) group closing the night, and an exhibition by one of Tahiti's own dance schools, O Raineari'i, directed by Hearani Salmon.  Here is a summary of today's schedule:

9:00 am Gates Open to Public
10:30 am Opening Day Introductions
11:00 am Group Events begin
1:00 pm Lunch
2:30 pm Awards Ceremony
3:30 pm Group Events continue
8:00 pm End of Day

General Admission tickets can be purchased on-site at the Waikiki Shell box office.  $15 Adult $10 Child, children under 4 free, a $1 ticket fee may apply.