PACIFIC SUPERHEROES

It was a privilege to meet and interview an original member at the ‘Te Manahua’ kapa haka competition held in La’ie, Oahu this month. Whaea Esther Jessop (QSM) was as graceful as ever and a highlight of the event with her poise and mana held within the Ngati Ranana roopu.

As a original member who made the long journey by ship to London fifty years ago with a small group of young Maori traveling for the first time, PACIFIC SUPERHEROES wish u many more fabulous voyages abroad that continuously educate us young ones as we try to navigate our way through the world Continue reading ‘Happy 50th Birthday Ngati Ranana Originals’

NA MAMO O HALOA OF KAUA’I WIN 9th ANNUAL TE MANAHUA MAORI CULTURAL COMPETITION by Louisa Te’i

Laie, Hawaii (August 9, 2008) – It may be winter in Aotearoa, but the warm Hawaiian sun was welcoming today at the Polynesian Cultural Center’s (PCC) 9th Annual Te Manahua Maori Cultural Competition. From across the state and the world, Maori groups came together to share in the songs and dances of their ancestors at the PCC’s Pacific Theater with more than 100 performers participating. The sun shined especially bright for Na Mamo O Haloa of Hanapepe, Kaua’i who was named the overall winner of the competition.

“The raw emotion of the performers leaves a Continue reading ‘Te Manahua 2008 results’

I was introduced to this book from a very good friend Tarewa, who we meet in Hawaii Nei. A great eye opener to the history of Kanaka Maoli and their fight for self determination separate from that of the United States of America. Its such a good read, already someone has `acquired` my borrowed copy sooooo PACIFIC SUPERHEROES check it out and read it!!!

A bit of background, Noenoe Silva is a professor of Political Studies and Hawaiian Languages at the University of Hawaii in Manoa. `Aloha Betrayed` gives the Hawaiian history of resistance as Continue reading ‘`Aloha Betrayed` by Noenoe Silva’

The 10th Pacific Festival of Arts was off the Hook!!

I am so thankful that I was chosen to be one of 120 participants to represent Aotearoa in the Visual Arts sector of the New Zealand Delegation. I was definetly in great company, Takirua Productions, Whangara-mai-Tawhiti kapa haka group, writer Diana Fuemana Continue reading ’10th Pacific Festival of Arts with Cerisse Palalagi’