SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2012 the Waikiki Shell will host the best event in Honolulu ~ Heiva I Honolulu 2012 Senior Division Group night and Awards Ceremony.
Te mau hoa here e, manava e ia ora I to tatou nei farereira’a I te fenua o to tatou mau tupuna.
“Heiva I Honolulu’s” greatest moments are characterized by its accomplishments over the years.
In 2003, following the foundation of Tahiti Nui International with the cooperation of the government of Tahiti, it’s Minister of Culture and the Mayor of Honolulu, “Heiva I Honolulu” took shape. Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris was bestowed the Tahitian name Heipuni Mataarii by Tahiti’s reknown language professor Mako Tevane. Tahiti’s Minister of Culture sent a representative to Hawaii to attend the “Heiva I Honolulu” event. Heremoana Maamaatuaiahutapu, Director of the House of Culture of French Polynesia, has since acted as Head Judge over “Heiva I Honolulu”.
Although not the only festival of its type in Hawaii, “Heiva I Honolulu” took on a new role, as the first of its caliber. In this same year, the first Group Overall recognition in the Senior Division was awarded to Nonosina of California, as the first Group Overall recognition in the Junior Division was awarded to Nonosina of Hawaii.
Sensationalizing this inaugural event, Tahiti Nui International, with the assistance of the Tahitian government, hosted Les Grands Ballet’s “Varua”, filling the Waikiki Shell’s capacity. This performance echoed the great beginnings of Tahitian dance in Hawaii and across the world.
In 2004, the growth of “Heiva I Honolulu” took on exponential numbers, featuring reknown groups representing Hawaii, North America, and now Japan.
The growth and recognition continued in 2005, when Tahiti Nui International hosted the award winning group “O Tahiti E” who featured their Grand Champion performance of “Te Muhu a Fenua”, “The Murmurs of the Land”. “Heiva I Honolulu” 2005 recognized newly elected Mayor Mufi Hanneman, who opened the ceremonies and attended the Awards night, drawing incredible capacity numbers to the Waikiki Shell yet another year.
In 2005, “Heiva I Honolulu” took wings and began to take shape in Japan. Partnering with Treasure Island of Japan, “Heiva I Japan” took root in Tokyo and continues annually today, celebrating its 5th Anniversary in September of 2011.
Tahiti Nui International’s “Heiva” concept took flight yet again in 2007. Under the direction of the current Minister of Culture, NatacheTaharua, Tahiti Nui International was invited to host “Heiva I Tahiti” Solo Competition in July, during the week of Tahiti’s own Heiva Laureat presentation and awards. Filling the Grand Theatre of the House of Culture in Papeete with a captive audience, soloists who previously competed at the Waikiki Shell, took stage in an event that would be the first of its kind. Groups from Hawaii, California, Canada, and Japan brought their soloist dancers to Tahiti in cooperation with Tahiti Nui International, The House of Culture, and the Heiva I Tahiti Committee. These same groups were invited to showcase their otea, aparima, and ahupurotu or hura presentations at Toata, the premier venue of Tahiti’s own Heiva events which captivated a sold out crowd of locals and visitors to Tahiti. The Toata stage was also the venue for Tahiti Nui International’s Heiva I Tahiti Solo Competition Overall Soloits event, where the first place soloists of each age category competes for the titles of Overall Tane and Overall Vahine. Since this event, the House of Culture of French Polynesia, under the direction of the Minister of Culture has continued to host similar events and created one of their own, Hura Tapairu.
Following such a historical moment in Tahitian dance history, “Heiva I Honolulu” was brought home to the Waikiki Shell stage from 2008 to 2010, recapturing the excitement and grandeur of its origin. The momentum over the years, took Tahiti Nui International and its “Heiva” program in 2011 to Las Vegas, Nevada. Tahiti Nui International hosted its first annual “Heiva I Las Vegas” in September of 2011 at the Cashman Center Theatre.
This year will celebrate not only the 10th anniversary of Tahiti Nui International and Heiva, but also the first year in which Tahiti Nui International will host all three events in one year: Heiva I Honolulu, Heiva I Japan, and Heiva I Las Vegas!
Ia Orana ALL! Life has thrown me a curve or two in the past month, so I am slightly delayed with the Participant Packet for Heiva I Honolulu 2012.
"Mauruuru roa to all who participated in TNI's Inaugural Heiva I Las Vegas 2011! Such an event is only possible with the support of every participant; group, soloist, vendor, staff, volunteer, sponsor, judge and guest are all essential to combining incredible spirit and energy into one purpose. Mille fois merci." ~ Tahiti Nui International
UPDATE ~ Overall Solo Results
Overall Tane ~ DJ Kekuaokalani / Nonosina Hawaii
Overall Vahine ~Edie Stanley / Heali'is Polynesian Revue
Tamari’i Tamahine/Tamaroa 4–6yrs
Tamahine First Place ~ Hinavaianatapu Vainuku / Te Hamata
Tamahine Second Place ~ Maile Tuikolovatu / Te Hamata
Tamahine Third Place ~ Lavinia Felila / Te Hamata
Tamaroa First Place ~ Dominic Hill / Tamatoa
Tamaroa Second Place ~ Kanai Smith / Na Lei O Kahikilani
Tamari'i Tamahine/Tamaroa 7–10yrs
Tamari'i Tamahine First Place ~ Zsalei Valdez / Tevakanui
Tamari'i Tamahine Second Place ~ Selynna Suapaia / Te Hamata
Tamari'i Tamahine Third Place ~ Telesia Vainuku / Te Hamata
Tamari'i Tamaroa First Place ~ Teanu George / Tevakanui
Tamari'i Tamaroa Second Place ~ Keola Perez / Tevakanui
Tamari'i Tamaroa Third Place ~ Frankie Mendiola / Tevakanui
Taure'are'a Vahine First Place ~ Sammy McClymonds / Hiti'a O Te Ra
Taure'are'a Vahine Second Place ~ Kayla Pimental / Independent
Taure'are'a Vahine Third Place ~ Leilani Sakura Weaver / Tiare Heipua
Taure'are'a Tane First Place ~ Kai Sabarsah / Tiare Heipua
Taure'are'a Tane Second Place ~ Akui Kapono / Hiti'a O Te Ra
Taure'are'a Tane Third Place ~ Lassen Genilla / Rau Tamanui
Taure’are’a Vahine/Tane 14 - 17
Taure'are'a Vahine First Place ~ Sydney McLeish / Healii's Polynesian Revue
Taure'are'a Vahine Second Place ~ Kaylani Mendiola / Tevakanui
Taure'are'a Vahine Third Place ~ Alexis Genilla / Rau Tamanui
Taure'are'a Tane First Place ~ Naenoa George / Tevakanui
Taure'are'a Tane Second Place ~ Ki-jana Matthews / Rau Tamanui
Taure'are'a Tane Third Place ~ Keahi George / Tevakanui
Vahine First Place ~ Charzelle Fuller McAngus / Maohi Nui
Vahine Second Place ~ Rosemarie Olea / Hiti'a O Te Ra
Vahine Third Place ~ Jessica Ruales / Rau Tamanui
Tane First Place ~ Okuto Horiuchi / Tiare Heipua
Tane Second Place ~ Kianu Neil-Messiona / Manutahi
Vahine/Tane 22–26yrs
Vahine First Place ~ Eddie Heali'i Stanley / Healii's Polynesian Revue
Vahine Second Place ~ Kari Nip / Heali'is Polynesian Revue
Vahine Third Place ~ Melissa Olea / Hiti'a O Te Ra
Tane First Place ~ Takafumi Gima / Tiare Heipua
Tane Second Place ~ Yoshichika Gima / Tiare Heipua
Tane Third Place ~ Akira Takahashi / Tiare Heipua
Vahine/Tane 27–35yrs
Vahine First Place ~ Akane Toyama / Tiare Heipua
Vahine Second Place ~ Rie Kitaiwa / Tiare Heipua
Vahine Third Place ~ Dania Hill / Tamatoa
Tane First Place ~ DJ Kekuaokalani / Nonosina Hawaii
Tane Second Place ~ Heitoki Jr. Maile / Pacific Generation
Ta’ata Pa’ari Vahine/Tane 36yrs+
Ta'ata Pa'ari Vahine First Place ~ Yvette George / Tevakanui
Ta'ata Pa'ari Vahine Second Place ~ Jaime Kahalepo / Independent
Ta'ata Pa'ari Vahine Third Place ~ Yumiko Kitazume / Te Hei Ura Polynesian Studio
Ta'ata Pa'ari Tane First Place ~ Henry George / Tevakanui
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