KAPA‘A — The Heiva I Kaua‘i Ia Orana Tahiti recently wrapped up two days of cultural exhibits, crafts, dance and food at the Kapa‘a Beach Park where hundreds of people were treated to workshops as well as competitive and exhibition
KAPA‘A — The Heiva I Kaua‘i Ia Orana Tahiti recently wrapped up two days of cultural exhibits, crafts, dance and food at the Kapa‘a Beach Park where hundreds of people were treated to workshops as well as competitive and exhibition dance and music presentations by various halau.
Kamuela Ferris and Emmsley-James Drake were named as the overall tane in the junior and senior divisions, respectively.
Female honors were awarded to Cara Mia Kricken and Chelsea Clement for the junior and senior divisions, respectively.
To be named to the overall divisions, the individual dancers had to advance through a series of dance-offs with other first place age division winners.
Ferris, a dancer with Ilima Rivera’s Hula Halau, won the boys 10-12 age division and bested his younger brother Kai Noah Ferris, a winner in the boys 7-9 division as well as a dancer with the Rivera halau.
Drake, a dancer with Rohotu, under kumu hula Wallis Punua, was unchallenged in his dance-off after topping the tane 13-15 age division.
But that did not stop the performer from doing a solo number following his guest appearance with Rohotu.
Kricken, an independent dancer from California who topped the vahine 10-12 age division, bested Vaitehu Parker and Kyanna Asuncion to earn the junior overall vahine title.
Clement, a dancer with Te ‘E ‘a o te Turama, was the top finisher in the vahine 13-15 division and bested Kawahineha‘aheo Oliver, Lani Figaroa and Marie Mapa, an independent from California, for the overall senior vahine title.
Louise Sausen was the top finisher in the vahine 40+ division. Following Mapa, Wailana Dasalia finished as the runner-up in the vahine 26-39 division.
Figaroa topped the vahine 19-25 age division followed by Kauluwehiokekai Oliver and Kelcie Yomen.
Clement, the overall senior vahine titlist, topped the vahine 13-15 age group followed by Kirstie Pii Matias and Teresa Huff.
Kricken, the overall vahine junior winner, topped the vahine 10-12 division followed by Tahra-Lee Kaui and Ashley Bowman.
Parker topped the Vahine 7-9 age class followed by Tia Takahashi and Sophia Rivera.
In the vahine 4-6 class, Angelina Rivera followed Asuncion as the runner-up for that class.
