Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 4, Number 9, 1 September 1987 — Tahitian, Samoan Knife Dancing Featured at Sept. 13 Festival [ARTICLE]

Tahitian, Samoan Knife Dancing Featured at Sept. 13 Festival

Five Oahu halau and two from Kapaa, Kauai, will be appearing in the third annual Polynesian Festival Dance Competition Sunday, Sept. 13, at the Kamehameha Schools Kekuhaupi'o Fieldhouse. The Festival is sponsored by Aloha Dalire's Keolalaulani Halau Olapa O Laka of Kaneohe as its major fundraiser to help defray expenses incurred during various mainland and neighbor island competition trips throughout the year.

Tickets are modestly priced at $5 for adults and $3 for youths 12 and under. They may be purchased by calling the halau at 247-6188. They will also be available at the door on the day of the event. The competition will feature Tahitian and Samoan knife dancing for those age 13 and over. There will be group and solo competition for men and women and also for combined groups.

Competition begins at 11 a.m. with doors opening at 10:30 a.m. A Hawaiian and Polynesian craft fair opens at 10 a.m. It will feature products from various organizations and merchants. A food and refreshment booth is also available.

The performing Kauai groups are Atooi Marama under Kapu Alquiza-Kinimaka and Himeni Ete Ori of Polynesia under Theresa and Ken Casil. The Oahu groups are Kahealani's Tiare Apetahi, Honolulu, Kahealani Akana Morton and Aulani Young; Aloha Pumehana O Polynesia, Waipahu, Dennis Kia and Denise Ramento; Te Vai Ura Nui, Manoa, Cathy and Charles Temehana; Kalena's Polynesian Ohana, Waialua, Evelyn Oloa; and Ho'omaika'i Hula Studio, Kahaluu, Shona Lam Ho.

A drumming contest is also on the program. Among the judges are Tiare Clifford of San Francisco and Newton Hitchcock of Vancouver, Wash. Two sisters — Elian Ortas and Roiti Tahauri — and their brother, Nephi Tahauri, all former Tahiti natives, are also among the judges. Completing the panel of judges are Lucy Lee, Kanani Brighter and Iwalani Tseu, all of Honolulu. It was the desire of Siosi Dalire, Aloha's husband and noted fire dancer at the Paradise Cove luaus, to perpetuate this type of dancing that the Festival was established.