Tokoroa cultural group take show to Hawaii
Forest View High School’s Polinetia Fa’atasi group are counting down to their end-of-year performance at the Polynesian Cultural Centre in Hawaii.
Hawaii’s Polynesian Cultural Centre will get a taste of Tokoroa talent when Polinetia Fa’atasi takes the stage in December.
The Polynesian cultural group from Forest View High School will travel to the island of Oahu for a 10-day trip that includes shows at the Polynesian Cultural Centre and several schools.
The Polynesian Cultural Centre is Hawaii’s number one tourist attraction and attracts visitors from all over the world. Since opening in 1963 the cultural centre has had more than 33 million visitors.
Teacher in charge, Aaron Mutua, says the students are excited about the trip and he is looking forward to the learning experience.
“It’s about giving the kids an eye opener to what is out there beyond Tokoroa and where education can take you.”
The group’s performances are made up of songs and dances inspired by the cultures of the Pacific, including Hawaiian, Tokelauan and the Cook Islands. The elaborate costumes are handmade from materials such as flax, feathers and shells.
The trip will cost around $2300 per person. To raise funds, Polinetia Fa’atasi has performed at events including weddings, birthdays and reunions.
Forest View student Isaiah Paiti said, “I’ve checked out our hotel in Waikiki, it’s how-flash. I can’t wait to go to the Polynesian Culture Centre – come on December, hurry up and come.”
This will be the second international trip for Polinetia Fa’atasi who performed throughout Australia in 2009.
In May the group won Pasifika by Nature, a regional Polynesian performance competition held in Hamilton.
A busy buildup to the trip will include a North Island tour in July, along with numerous fundraising performances before December.
Mr Mutua is hoping that with the Australian tour under their belts, the Hawaii tour will be the next step towards a European tour next year.
