In December of 2007 my Kumu, Frank Kawaikapuokalni Hewett, was honored at the first E Pili Kakou  in Tahiti.  After a few months of creative fundraising, AP sent four dance students to participate in the event and be on hand to perform in celebration of the honorees: Kumu Hewett and Mama Louise. 

The 7 days we were in French Polynesia were not wasted sipping maitais by the pool.  We attended Tahitian drumming, Himene, Kahiko Hula, Ori Tahiti, Ma'i poetry, and costume design workshops by day and performed during the evening festivities.  We even found ourselves dancing in the hotel lobby at the request of Tevai, our friendly hotel musician.   Amazingly, we still made time to frolic in waterfalls, take a thrilling 4x4 ride into the heart of Tahiti's Papenoo Valley, attend a cultural exchange ceremony at Fare Hape, swim with black tip reef sharks and stingrays, visit underwater tikis, make friends with the warm hearted locals, snorkel in Mo'orea with our good friend Teiva, get tattooed, take ATV tours, rent scooters to explore our beloved Mo'orea, dance the night away at the local night club Kikiriri, and catch a performance by the acclaimed dance troupe O Tahiti E.   At the end of our Tahitian adventure, Teiva's family invited us for a farewell dinner at their house where we had a final impromptu fireknife lesson lead by, you guessed it, Teiva! 

Speaking for Nahenahe, Pohaku, Crystal, Eric, Tony, and myself, this was an adventure of a lifetime and over far too soon.  Tahiti is calling to us again . . . . .and we hope to return soon.  HANA HOU!

Nana,

Tyra

P.S.~ Mauruuru to the entire AP hula 'ohana for helping us go to Tahiti.  Your aloha and kokua was felt and appreciated by us all.  I hope that each one of you can join us on our next adventure!

Last Edited on 17-Jan-2008 4:25 PM