KAPA‘A — When the sun sets on the first day of Heiva I Kaua‘i Tahitian dance and drumming competition, the gates will reopen for Po Afi Kaua‘i Samoan Fireknife Competition starting at 6 p.m. at Kapa‘a Beach Park on Saturday.
“We’ll be doing workshops and exhibitions on both days at the Heiva,” said Michael Drake of iSiva Fireknife Crew. “When the sun sets on the daytime activity, we’ll have the Samoan Fireknife Competition, a cousin culture to Tahitian dance and drumming.”
Admission is $5 a person at the gate with children 12 and under being admitted free for the event, which is expected to draw a large crowd.
“This year is going to be big,” Michael said. “We’ve received inquiries from fireknife dancers from all the neighbor islands, and from California, and Utah. We even had interest from the Polynesian Culture Center who wants to talk about fireknife.”
Longtime iSiva performers, the Drake ‘ohana lend their expertise and knowledge to the Heiva I Kaua‘i International Tahitian Dance Competition that will open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday at Kapa‘a Beach Park.
“This is the 21st anniversary of a unique, exciting, and colorful Tahitian dance and drumming competition,” said a spokesman for Heiva I Kaua‘i, whose president Tepairu Manea, is one of the Tahitian craftsmen hosting workshops and demonstrations at the two-day event.
“Heiva I Kaua‘i provides a venue for performers of all ages to present their talent, skill, and cultural knowledge to an audience of more than a thousand attendees, daily,” the spokesman said.
“Because this is a community sponsored, family-friendly event, there will be a variety of crafters and vendors, focusing on Tahitian, Polynesian, and Pacific Islands craft, for people to browse and shop. And, there will be food vendors offering a variety of local food and nonalcoholic beverages.”
Participating vendors also provide items that will be available through a silent auction whose proceeds go back toward perpetuating the annual event.
Individual performers ranging in age from toddler to elder are expected from across the state, the mainland, and even as far away as Japan. Individuals compete in traditional solo categories of otea vahinem and tane.
Group competition categories include the otea, aparima, ahupurotu, and drumming. The participating groups will be joined by O‘ahu’s award-winning Te Vai Ura Nui doing its performances and drumming.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
