NONOSINA HAWAII WINS TAHITIAN CULTURAL CELEBRATION
Te Mahana Hiro‘a O Tahiti Ends at the Polynesian Cultural Center
La‘ie, HI - July 18, 2004 - The Hau skirts swished and the drums beat to the sound of another year celebrating the Tahitian culture at the Polynesian Cultural Center’s 4th Annual Te Mahana Hiro‘a O Tahiti festival. La‘ie’s own Nonosina Hawaii took top honors this year in its debut appearance at the annual celebration, which featured dancers from eight Tahitian dance groups on O‘ahu.
Tahitian dancers ranging from ages 2 to 18 participated in the two-day competition, which began on Friday, July 16, with more than 100 solo competitors, and ended Saturday, July 17, with only a few crowned the best. Other Tahitian cultural activities, including dance workshops, were held throughout the week in the PCC’s Tahitian Village to highlight the beauty and excitement of the islands for guests.
Nonosina Hawaii’s ra‘atira, or leaders, John and Tiani Mariteragi led their group to first place honors in the ote‘a and second place in the aparima categories to earn the highest group score overall. Wahiawa’s Manutahi, led by Pola Teriipaia, was unseated as the three-time champion to place second overall.
Vaitiare Napa‘a of Tamarii A‘Hiva won the overall vahine, or female, solo dance award in the senior group as well as top honors in the 12 to 13-year-old solo dance category. Toa Leiataua of Nonosina Hawaii won the overall senior tane, or male, solo dance competition and the 16 to 18-year-old solo dance category.
Chelsea Clement of Manutahi won the overall junior female solo dance award, as well as the 10 to 11-year-old solo dance category. Nonosina Hawaii’s Johnny Tapusoa took the top honors for the junior male solo dance category, and the 8 to 9-year-old solo dance category. (See list of winners below.) The Tamarii, or junior division, included competitors in categories spanning 2-3 year olds to 10-11 year olds. The Taure‘are‘a, or senior division, featured competitors ranging in ages from 12 to 18.
Saturday’s events also included the group ote‘a and aparima competitions. The ote‘a is the best-known Tahitian style of dance because of the fast, rhythmic movements and swishing Hau skirts. The aparima, literally translated as “kiss of the hands,” is a slower dance that uses the hands to tell a story similar to the Hawaiian hula. Dancers were judged in each category based on their skill, grace and, for the ote‘a, speed.
“We started the event four years ago as a way to help preserve these aspects of Tahitian culture and heritage through the tamarii, or children,” said Raymond Marieteragi, director of cultural presentations for the Tahitian village at the PCC. “We timed it to coincide with the annual heiva held in Papeete, Tahiti, to pay tribute to our culture. Since we started this competition, we’ve seen a lot more interest in hosting Tahiti fêtes and starting dance groups in Hawai‘i. We encourage everyone to join in and learn.”
The Hula Supply Center, Treasures of Tahiti and Hawaii Polynesian Cultural Supply returned as sponsors of the annual competition providing monetary support, black pearls and hand-carved toere drums as prizes for the winners.
Founded in 1963 as a non-profit organization, the PCC has entertained more than 30 million visitors by preserving and portraying the spirit, culture and people of Polynesia to the rest of the world. More important is the mission of the PCC, which supports the educational mission of Brigham Young University-Hawai‘i and provides an extension of the classroom in a workplace setting. Since its establishment, the PCC has employed more than 13,000 BYU-Hawai‘i students. As a non-profit organization, 100 percent of the PCC’s revenue is used for daily operations and to support the students who earn their tuition, room and board, and books. The PCC also provides significant financial support to elementary and secondary schools and to college students attending institutions of their choice besides BYU-Hawai‘i.
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TE MAHANA HIRO‘A O TAHITI
2004 Results
GROUP COMPETITION
Aparima
Group Raatira Score
1. Tamarii A Hiva Cathy Teriipaia, Hau‘ula 4,131
2. Nonosina Hawaii Jon & Tiani Mariteragi, La‘ie 4,057
3. Manutahi Pola Teriipaia, Wahiawa 3,713
4. Tavanui Dennis
Kia, Pearl City 3,370
Ote‘a
Group Raatira Score
1. Nonosina Hawaii Jon & Tiani Mariteragi, La‘ie 5,137
2. Manutahi Pola Teriipaia, Wahiawa 4,865
3. Tavanui Dennis Kia, Pearl City 4,669
4. Oriata Maeva Anderson, Kahuku 4,532
SOLO COMPETITION
TAMARII (AGE 2-11) OVERALL WINNERS
Vahine (Female)
1. Chelsea Clement, Manutahi
2. Briani Somera, Manutahi
3. Uranuihia Fonoimoana, Tamarii o Patitifa
Tane (Male)
1. Johnny Tapusoa, Nonosina Hawaii
2. Jordan Mariteragi, Nonosina Hawaii
3. Rhansyn Leehong, Manutahi
TAURE‘ARE‘A (AGE 12-18) OVERALL WINNERS
Vahine
1. Vaitiare Napa‘a, Tamarii A‘Hiva
2. Sina Nauahi, Nonosina Hawaii
3. To‘a Hill, Tamarii A‘Hiva
Male
1. Toa Leataua, Nonosina Hawaii
2. L.J. Mariteragi, Nonosina Hawaii
2004 SOLO COMPETITION
RESULTS
TAMARII DIVISION (Ages 2-11)
Vahine
Age 2-4
1. Hayley Hontanosas, Oriata
2. Chaylyn Navares, Manutahi
3. To‘oto‘o Moana, Marania Haoragi
Age 5-7
1. Uranuihia Fonoimoana, Tamarii o Patitifa
2. Shandy Hopeau, Tiare Ura o Tahiti
3. Sharyah Leehong, Manutahi
Age 8-9
1. Briani Somera, Manutahi
2. Chayenne Fonoimoana, Tamarii A‘Hiva
3. Minei Stant, Tamarii A‘Hiva
Age 10-11
1. Chelsea Clement, Manutahi
2. Charzelle McAngus, Manutahi
3. Shayna Soma, Tiare Ura o Tahiti
Tane
Age 2-4
1. Kawika Keo, Tamarii o Patitifa
Age 5-7
1. Jordan Mariteragi, Nonosina Hawaii
2. Kimo Ah-Hoy, Nonosina Hawaii
3. Teancum Kaitoku, Nonosina Hawaii
Age 8-9
1. Johnny Tapusoa, Nonosina Hawaii
2. William Lumayas, Manutahi
3. Kekahu Aluli, Nonosina Hawaii
Age 10-11
1. Rhansyn Leehong, Manutahi
2. Tigi Hill, Nonosina Hawaii
3. Kosi Lavea-Jennings, Manutahi
TAURE‘ARE‘A DIVISION (Ages 12-18)
Vahine
Age 12-13
1. Vaitiare Napa‘a, Tamarii A‘Hiva
2. Dayna Higa, Manutahi
3. Treasure Aiona-Kakalia, Manutahi
Age 14-15
1. To‘a Hill, Tamarii A‘Hiva
2. Alise Hontanosas, Oriata
3. Manaia Moeai, Nonosina Hawaii
Age 16-18
1. Sina Nauahi, Nonosina Hawaii
2. Kaui Kahaialii, Oriata
3. Elize Tima, Tavanui
Tane
Age 12-13
1. L.J. Mariteragi, Nonosina Hawaii
2. Benjamin Fonoimoana, Tamarii A‘Hiva
3. William Ulii, Nonosina Hawaii
Age 14-15
No Competitors
Age 16-18
1. Toa Leiataua, Nonosina Hawaii
