MAISEY RIKA AND RIA HALL MAKE THEIR HAWAII DEBUT AT THE POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER’S TE MANAHUA MAORI CULTURAL ARTS COMPETITION, AUG. 2-4
Cultural Festival Celebrates the Spirit Of New Zealand
Laie, HI (June 06, 2012) – After a year’s absence, the Te Manahua Maori Cultural Arts Competition is returning in a big way, August 2-4. For over a decade this festival has perpetuated the native culture of Aotearoa (New Zealand) with competitors arriving from as far as London and New Zealand. This year, Te Manahua has been extended to three nights and will once again feature local and international competitors. The three nights of festivities begin on Thursday, August 2 with the Haka Hard and Poi-e competitions.
The following night, Friday, August 3, features the Hawaii debut of two of New Zealand’s top artists, Maisey Rika and Ria Hall. This concert will be priced separately and is not included in the Te Manahua ticket price. As a young artist in her 20’s, Maisey Rika has already released two albums, both of which climbed the NZ Top 40 charts and has been described as having “one of the most arresting and beautiful voices to emerge from New Zealand, ever.” Also performing will be Ria Hall, an exciting new voice on the contemporary New Zealand music landscape. Ms. Hall burst onto the scene with an inspired performance at the opening ceremony of the Rugby World Cup last year.
Te Manahua concludes with the Maori Performing Arts Competition on Saturday, August 4. Groups competing in the Maori Performing Arts Competition will be evaluated in the non-aggregate categories of kakahu (attire), manukura wahine (female leaders) and manukura tane (male leaders). Each group will also be judged in aggregate on whakaeke (entrance), moteatea (traditional chanting), waiata-a-ringa (action songs), waiata hou (original song compositions), poi (graceful dance implement with the twirling ball on end of string), haka (male posture dance) and their whakawatea (exit).
“Te Manahua is back and better than ever this year,” said Seamus Fitzgerald, Aotearoa village manager. “We’ve got a fantastic bunch of groups competing this year. Audiences will be captivated from start to finish by the powerful haka, mesmerizing poi and intricately detailed costumes. The concert is the cherry on top and we’re honored to host two amazing vocalists.”
Tickets to the Aug. 2 Haka hard and Poi-e competition and the Aug. 4 Maori Performing Arts Competition are $10 for age 12 or older; $6 for children ages 5 to 11. Free for Kamaaina Annual Pass holders, full-day ticket holders and keiki age 4 or younger. Ticket pricing for the Maisey Rika and Ria Hall concert is being finalized. Visit Polynesia.com for updates on concert ticket prices and for more information.
Founded in 1963 as a non-profit organization, the PCC has entertained more the 36 million visitors, while preserving and portraying the culture, arts, and crafts of Polynesia to the rest of the world. In addition, the PCC has provided financial assistance to 17,000 young people from over 70 different countries while they attend Brigham Young University-Hawaii. As a non-profit organization, 100 percent of PCC’s revenue is used for daily operations and to support education.