Pasifika Festival 2009

A little of the sights, sounds, music, colours, peoples, arts, crafts and cultures of the Pasifika Festival 2009.

Kia ora, talofa lava, malo e lelei, ni sa bula vinaka, kia orana, fakaalofa lahi atu, kam na mauri, taloha ni, greetings.
One of the largest free events in the South Pacific, the Pasifika Festival comprises ten "villages", each from a differing South Pacific island community.
Now in its 17th year, this one day event is held annually in Western Springs park, Auckland, New Zealand.
The villages (in order of appearance): Tangata Whenua; Tokelau; Fiji; Samoa; Tuvalu; Niue; Cook Islands; Tonga; Tahiti and Kiribati.

TANGATA WHENUA
Meaning "people of the land" in Māori, this village presents the hosts - Ngati Whatua o Orakei.

TOKELAU
One of the smallest and most isolated island groups in the Pacific.

FIJI
Fierce warriors and friendly Fijian policemen usher entertainment and mat weaving, tapa printing and wood carving crafts.

SAMOA
Known throughout Polynesia as the "happy people", the Samoan village highlights food, dance and fashion, with traditional Samoan dishes such as cold pineapple salad, tropical ice cream and food prepared in an umu (earth oven); dance groups, bands and choirs and a fashion show, Fa'afetai Lava.

TUVALU
Tuvalu means "eight beautiful islands".
"Tuvalu culture is rare and unique
And hold a message we should seek
Hold our culture way up high
And our Tuvalu culture will never die.
I normally hear friendly waves on our island shore
when I was little
It is not anymore
The sound is getting louder and threatening
My Tuvalu island is going to disappear from the
rising sea level
Tuvalu,my beautiful Tuvalu I cry for you."
- Apiseka Eka

NIUE
Originating from the word "niu", meaning coconut, Niue literally translates as "here is a coconut". Also known as the "Rock of the Pacific", comprised of a single island, Niue is the largest raised coral atoll in the world.
With song, music, challenge dances (meke), traditional weaving, coconut grating, umu cooking and a range of handicrafts made from pandanus and coconut leaves.
Niue is also proud home to Miss Vanessa Marsh - Miss Niue and Miss South Pacific 2009.

COOK ISLANDS
The Cook Islands are known as the "Pearl of the Pacific".
To the sound of the conch shell, drumming, ukuleles and warm smiles, Cook Island dances make your feet and hips move in magical ways. Abundant delicacies, intricate handicrafts and rich resources are key features of this vibrant community.

TONGA
Tonga means "south" and is another highlight of the South Pacific.
Traditional Tongan music by Kava groups, tapa cloth making and mat weaving.

TAHITI
Tahiti is made up of 118 islands in five archipalle - Tuamotu, Marquases, Australle, Society and Gambier.
Home to the finest black pearls and a blend of Tahitian and French cultures.

KIRIBATI
Featuring traditional dances or mwaies, such as "Te Eitei" - where head and arm movements imitate the frigate bird, an I-Kiribati symbol of peace and freedom.
A chance to taste their foods and see Kiribati weaving and tilbuta (a traditional blouse, unique to the I-Kiribati women).

For more about the Pasifika Festival, see:
http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/whatson/events/pasifika/default.asp

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Pasifika
• Festival
• 2009
• sights
• sounds
• music
• colours
• peoples
• arts
• crafts
• cultures
• South
• Pacific
• 17th
• Western
• Springs
• park
• Auckland
• New
• Zealand
• Tangata
• Whenua
• Tokelau
• Fiji
• Samoa
• Tuvalu
• Niue
• Cook
• Islands
• Tonga
• Tahiti
• Kiribati
• Māori
• Ngati
• Whatua
• weaving
• tapa
• printing
• carving
• Polynesia
• Micronesia
• pineapple
• umu
• dance
• coconut
• song
• meke
• cooking
• handicrafts
• Miss
• Vanessa
• Marsh
• drumming
• ukuleles
• Kava
• mwaies
• taste
• food
• faberoptime
• Faber
• Optimé
• optime

[laom20]

Wow, great video, I didn't know much about pacific cultures and this pretty much gave me a good impression.. BTW What's the folklore song @0:14 ?? It's so nice xD

[FaberOptime]

@laom20 - I'm really sorry but I don't know. :-(

Not even sure from which Pacific Island(s) these performers came from.

I hope some other YouTuber may be able to assist?

[FaberOptime]

Read the credits at the end!!

It's called Poi E and it's by the Patea Maori Club.

You can find it elsewhere on YouTube.

[SAMATAiTAi]

nice clip! showing all the polynesian cultures showcased at this event, keep it up

[timzes]

very clever editing, good job

[85darson]

Y'all are arguing where Kiribati belongs lol Polynesian n Micronesians are the same people that makes kiribati micro-poly Micronesians are Polynesians only difference is Micronesians are mix polys

[teetalovespeace]

historically kiribati people are mixed micronesian, polynesian and melanesian.

[howdoyouknowme100]

uumm kiribati is a Micronesian, they are not polynesian....uuumm the dancing skirt or wateva the tokelauans are wearing, that is originally from Nanumaga an a small island from Tuvalu..

[jusitke07]

no worries.

[jusitke07]

Kiribati is Micronesian...not Polynesian. Anyway, they're all Austronesians.

[wvpamcur]

Great idea to use Google Map - definitely gives a sense of place to the music and people.

[fergusmc69]

cool, i was there. Got wet.