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POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER ANNOUNCE RESULTS OF TE MANAHUA MAORI PERFORMING ARTS COMPETITION

POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER ANNOUNCE RESULTS OF TE MANAHUA MAORI PERFORMING ARTS COMPETITION

Three-Day Cultural Festival Celebrates the Spirit Of New Zealand

Laie, HI – August 04, 2012 – Following a year absence, the Te Manahua Maori Festival returned with a three-day celebration of the Maori spirit and culture at the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC). Local and international performers – including four groups from New Zealand – took part in this week’s exciting whakataetae (competition).
Te Manahua kicked off Thursday with an invigorating Haka Hard and Poi E competition; performers captivated audiences from start to finish with their powerful haka (posture dance) and mesmerizing poi (graceful ball fastened to a cord). The festival continued Friday night with the Hawaii debut of two of New Zealand’s most popular artists, Maisey Rika and Ria Hall. This afternoon’s dramatic conclusion at the Maori Performing Arts Competition brought a fitting close to Te Manahua.
“Te Manahua is back and better than ever. Competitors came out on fire at Thursday’s Haka Hard and Poi E competition and that mana carried on throughout the weekend,” said Seamus Fitzgerald, Aotearoa village manager. “Congratulations to Te Kohao Hawaiiki of Laie, Hawaii who took top honors, each group brought it but Te Kohao Hawaiiki managed to beat out the competition.”
Te Kohao Hawaiiki filled the Pacific Theater with mana and captivated the audience with their impressive mix of authoritative haka, skillful poi, beautiful kakahu (attire) and dynamic formations.
Groups were evaluated in non-aggregate categories of kakahu, kaitataki wahine (female leaders), kaitataki tane (male leaders) and te reo (Maori language). Each group was also judged in aggregate on whakaeke (entrance), moteatea (traditional chanting), waiata-a-ringa (action songs), waiata tira (choral song), poi, haka and theirwhakawatea (exit).
“Maisey Rika and Ria Hall are simply amazing,” said Fitzgerald. “It was absolutely surreal to have two of the brightest stars in New Zealand performing at the PCC and we are very honored to have them as part of this year’s Te Manahua Festival. We’re also very excited to see that kamaaina and visitors have embraced the PCC as one of Hawaii’s premiere concert venues.”
Last night in PCC’s 24,400-square-foot Gateway special events venue, guests were treated to some of Aotearoa’s top artists. From the special opening performance by New Zealand group Hatea, to both solo and collaborative group performances by Maisey Rika, Ria Hall and Rob Ruha, musician and head judge for today’s Maori Performing Arts Competition, there was no shortage of awe-inspiring talent.
Te Manahua is one of four cultural festivals held at the PCC annually.

Results
Maori Performing Arts Competition
Overall
1. Te Kohao Hawaiiki
2. Te Rerenga Tahi
3. Ratapu

Kakahu
1. Te Kohao Hawaiiki
2. Te Rerenga Tahi
3. Ratapu

Kaitataki Wahine
1. Te Kohao Hawaiiki
2. Te Rerenga Tahi
3. Ratapu

Kaitataki Tane
1. Te Kohao Hawaiiki
2. Ratapu
3. Te Rerenga Tahi

Te Reo
1. Te Kohao Hawaiiki
2. Te Rerenga Tahi
3. Ratapu

Waiata Tira
1. Te Kohao Hawaiiki
2. Te Rerenga Tahi
3. Taipa Area School

Whakaeke
1. Te Kohao Hawaiiki
2. Te Rerenga Tahi
3. Ratapu

Moteatea
1. Te Kohao Hawaiiki
2. Te Rerenga Tahi
3. Taipa Area School

Waiata-A-Ringa
1. Te Kohao Hawaiiki
2. Te Rerenga Tahi
3. Ratapu

Poi
1. Te Kohao Hawaiiki
2. Te Rerenga Tahi
3. Ratapu

Haka
1. Ratapu
2. Te Kohao Hawaiiki
3. Te Rerenga Tahi

Whakawatea
1. Te Kohao Hawaiiki
2. Te Rerenga Tahi
3. Ratapu

Haka Hard and Poi E

Haka Hard
1. Hatea 2
2. BYU Hawaii Kiwi Club
3. Kahuku Kaipahua Kura

Poi E
1. Hatea
2. Wananga Maori o Hawaii
3. Na Mamo o Haloa

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.

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