Tahiti festival. Islands of Tahiti 2019-11-28

【The HEIVA Festival】Celebration of French Polynesian Culture

The festival has been running since 2008. Heiva Costumes Heiva costumes are crucial to experiencing Heiva. Our villagers are delighted to share the beauty of their culture with you, all with that gorgeous French accent. Well there are no official set dates, the Heiva generally begins in the first week of July and runs for the entire month. And, after Tahiti was annexed by France in 1881, the coming decades brought a resurgence of Tahitian pride and heritage that all culminated in a formal celebration that has become the Heiva I Tahiti. At the time, these were mainly military parades, torchlight retreats and other official demonstrations, in which the himene — the traditional song — had a privileged place that encouraged lively and intense expression. Prizes are awarded at a feast with a concert filled with Tahitian dancing.

【The HEIVA Festival】Celebration of French Polynesian Culture

How to they celebrate the Heiva? Where does the Heiva take place? The crowning of the Queen and King of Tahiti is another carnival highlight. Competitors practice for as long as six months in preparation for the Heiva, with the same auditions and cuts you would expect from a professional New York dance group. Most tourists tend to stay in the luxury water front hotels and resorts that are usually north or south of Papeete and then take a taxi or shuttle to the events. So this is a great opportunity to catch a glimpse of how things may have looked like in ancient times, a meticulously researched and rehearsed spectacle that takes place several times during the Heiva. Where does the Heiva take place? Not much is known about the ancient ways since legend and history were orally passed and then erased for decades by the missionaries. They also eradicated several elements of Tahitian culture like the destruction of stone temples and many of their ancient art forms such as dance, music, art, costume-making and tattooing. In the ancient temple of Marae Arahurahu in the town of Paea a select few groups will perform in religious ceremonies.

Islands of Tahiti

Ask around to get the lowdown on the post-festival hoedown. Marking the official start of the Heiva, the fire walking ceremony is a much-anticipated event. However the principal Heiva celebrations occurs on the main island Tahiti in Papeete which hosts the main song and dance competitions that occur in in Place Toata. Since Polynesians walk barefoot from an early age, the bottom of their feet are stone-like, however, this is impressive on a whole other level! Sadly, the missionaries sought to assimilate the natives of French Polynesia and eradicate several elements of Tahitian culture. This Heiva dance competition is considered so prestigious and is such an honour to win that competitors practice for months in advance.

10th Annual Uwajimaya Renton Polynesian Festival

The rocks are from the local beaches and crack under pressure. This year again more than a hundred pendulum canoes will start from the Fare site and cross the finish line on Matira beach. Heiva Music Each group is accompanied by an orchestra of fifty musicians made up of island instruments like the ukulele, vivo which is a bamboo nasal flute, pu which are conch shells and drums. Leave this field empty if you're human:. The Heiva sporting competitions are kept true to Tahitian traditions. Other solid options include the by Pointe Venus canoe race venue and in Punaauia close to a sports competition venue. When the Islands came under French Influence because the French were Catholic, in efforts to erase Protestant influence the French permitted Tahitians to celebrate their culture through song, dance and sporting competitions but only on Bastille Day July 14th and this an early version of the Heiva was born called the Tiurai festival.

Polynesian Cultural Festival

After that, Tina and I had a little picnic. I headed to Venus Fort, in Odaiba for good food, fresh pineapple juice, Tahitian beer, music, dance, clothing and more. The event includes television conferences, documentary film screenings, and competitions for filmmakers, who can also attend workshops and round table discussions. Participation is encouraged for the audience dance competition and coconut husking contests. Heiva Ceremonies Many amazing Heiva ceremonial performances are put on during the Heiva that demonstrate how life would have been in the past when the islands of French Polynesia were isolated from the rest of the world. The event is free to attend! Although I do wish they had more vendors and the lines aren't so long for the food.

Polynesian Festival

Families practiced dance in secret, recorded traditions and customs, and took tremendous risk in the clandestine sharing of these legacies for the next generation. These tend to be more luxurious and quiet than the hotels within Papeete which is a noisy place that I personally love for its dilapidated-yet-charming colonial vibe by the waterfront. Each night of the regatta, the winners of each stage receive trophies at dinners with traditional Tahitian entertainment. The origins of Heiva go back to 1767 when the first Europeans first set foot on the islands of Tahiti. So if you want to plan your visit to coincide with the Heiva but do not wish to book a last minute trip to French Polynesia I can certainly understand , aim to be in Tahiti during the first half of July.

10th Annual Uwajimaya Renton Polynesian Festival

To get a quote for a flight Where to stay for the Heiva? Participants are prized for their ability to perform the activities of their ancestors. The society was in turmoil from diseases that had been introduced to them by the foreign explorers. The Heiva showcases the unique heritage, art, dance and physical strength of the French Polynesians. Since most of the action takes place in the capital city — Papeete, it is best to stay in the city or not too far away. And no electric guitars are to be found here as well, just island instruments such as ukuleles and thunderous drums. But this is no ordinary festival, the Heiva has become the symbol of the Polynesian culture and an iconic event for a people proud of their heritage.

10th Annual Uwajimaya Renton Polynesian Festival

The Heiva Experience The festival is truly a feast for the senses! Tahitians also take pride in their athletic abilities and the Heiva is a showcase for traditional sports. The Heiva is an incredibly unique celebration and something that needs to be experienced oneself. Tahiti is the best island to stay on because that is where the main events occur in the capital city Papeete. The Umuti - Tahiti For more than 60 years, the ceremony of the Fire walk gathers several hundred sectors curious to know its ancestral moments. Not a great deal is known about the ancient French Polynesian religions as history was always passed on orally so it was easily erased by the missionaries.

10th Annual Uwajimaya Renton Polynesian Festival

And to see the dancers. Tahiti Pearl Regatta This mid-May sailing regatta takes place over three stages and three days between Tahaa, Bora Bora, and Raiatea. Perhaps one of the main draws of Heiva are the elaborate dance shows. They harnessed this power for good acts such as curbing alcoholism, introducing literacy and banning cannibalism, but they also forbid the old religion, encouraged the destruction of stone temples and erased the very same art forms that were the pillars of the old society such as dance, costume-making, and tattooing. Organized by Raymond Teriierooiterai Graffe also Tahua to chair the ceremony which takes place as every year in Mahana Park last week of June or even first week of July.

25th Annual Pacific Islander Festival

Townships across Tahiti build their own floats under the greatest of secrecy before unveiling them at the Papeete parade attended by nearly 10,000 spectators. To be clear, there is meaning in every dance and a story to be witnessed. There are also competitions in stone weight lifting, palm tree climbing, and coconut cracking. One of the most interesting, fun and beautiful cultures in the world. The place is situated on the seaside and is one of the best locations for this type of event because it is very spacious.