KAPA‘A — ‘Te ‘E‘a o te Turama, a halau from the Big Island, had a great heiva over the weekend, sweeping the group competition and the male 19-25 individual competition and placing Jack Kahiau Jeremiah in the Overall Tane Junior
KAPA‘A — ‘Te ‘E‘a o te Turama, a halau from the Big Island, had a great heiva over the weekend, sweeping the group competition and the male 19-25 individual competition and placing Jack Kahiau Jeremiah in the Overall Tane Junior division.
Those awards helped the group from Kona be selected as the overall winner of the 2012 Heiva I Kaua‘i program which wrapped up two days of competition and presentations at Kapa‘a Beach Park.
‘Te ‘E‘a o te Turama swept the group competition in the Otea, Aparima, Drumming and Ahupurotu categories, its only challenge coming from Kawailehua, a halau from California, who challenged the Big Island group in the Ahupurotu phase.
Kainalu Tolentino, Ka‘ina Mersberg and Kawena Mersberg filled in the top three spots of the 19-25 age group competition and Nike Tolentino captured first in the 13-15 age group competition. Tahra-Lee Kaui of Halau Hula o Leilani and Cassandra Kanoho of Te Vai Ura Nui settled in third of that division.
Jeremiah, competing in the 4-6 junior group, topped Wyndom Maycong of Kaliko Boi Entertainment, Kaua‘i for the top spot and was awarded the Overall Tane, Junior Division winner.
Emmsley-James Drake, helping his family with the fire knife workshops and demonstrations over the two days of the event, topped the 16-18 age group, representing Rohotu with Wallis Punua as its Kumu Hula. Drake, no stranger to fire knife and Polynesian dance competitions, was named Overall Tane, Senior Division winner for his work.
Drake won top honors over JB Almogela of Kawailehua and Chazton Sasil of Ori Uvira.
Kumu Hula Leilani Bond had a strong showing for Kaua‘i, Halau Hula O Leilani capturing three first places in the solo competitions.
Kamalani Bond, who has a song named after her by her grandfather, Larry Rivera, topped the 26-39 division over Jaslynn Nuilani Ornellas of Ori Uvira and Criste Ching of ‘Te ‘E‘a o te Turama.
Jade Oswald, competing in the 7-9 division for Halau Hula O Leilani, topped Jaedyn Keawe-Caspillo and Emily Binder, both dancers of Tamatea Nui O Kaua‘i.
Kilinoe Oliveira, competing in the 4-6 female group for Halau Hula O Leilani, topped Victoria Perreira of Tamatea Nui O Kaua‘i and Jaylee Souza-Yim of Ori Uvira, Kaua‘i.
Britney hoku Hornos, competing in the female 19-25 group, earned one of two first place honors for Ori Uvira, topping Natasha Nashiro of Tahiti Toa, based out of O‘ahu and Japan, and Tiani Kuloloia of ‘Te ‘E‘a o te Turama.
Jaeden Maka‘ala Victor-Basuel, competing in the male 7-9 group, topped Naone Lee-Tolentino of ‘Te ‘E‘a o te Turama for Ori Uvira’s second top honor at the festival.
Tiani Bello, competing in the 10-12 age group, was named Overall Vahine, Junior division winner after topping Sophia Rivera of Ilima’s Hula Studio and Kaileen Ke‘alohi Pang Lardizabal of Ma‘ohi Nui, O‘ahu.
Naomi Baldomero of Te Vai Ura Nui, competing in the female 16-18 age group, was named Overall Vahine, Senior division winner after getting past Piikea Kristie Matias of Tamatea Nui o Kaua‘i and Meleane Uta of Te Vai Ura Nui.
Te Vai Ura Nui offered group exhibitions on both days of the festival that also featured crafter and food booths. The group wrapped up its second first place when Daniel Sherman, competing in the 26-39 group, topped Tyson Valenzuela of ‘Te ‘E‘a o te Turama and Jacob Smilie Punzal of A Smile Productions, Kaua‘i.
Louise Sausen competed as an independent in the 40-plus group.
Tepairu Manea, heading up a booth featuring Tahitian musical instruments with emphasis on Tahitian drums, led the Heiva I Kaua‘i Ia Orana Tahiti committee which included Stella Miyoshi, Ray Carpenter, Olinda Higashi, Shirlee and David Kaneholani, Sarah Kaneholani, Barbara Bacon, Pat Finberg, Jo Manea, Risa Clemmons, Bev Pang and Kathaleen Lorenz.
The event was sponsored by the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority and the County of Kaua‘i with help from Geico, Island Woodworks who produced this year’s wooden trophies, Hilo Hattie, Rotary Club of Kapa‘a, Kaua‘i Nursery and Landscaping, Summers Realty, Kaua‘i Museum, Ono Family Restaurant, Ray Duarte Sound Systems and Donna Ikei.
∫ Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
