Huraiti Mana First Annual Fa'aori

ANNUAL FA'A'ORI | to cause to dance

Our Fa'a'ori 2020 has been cancelled as we continue to monitor closely the effects of the pandemic across our communities. Studies have shown that COVID19 infection rates are highest among Pacific Islander and Native Hawaiian populations in Washington, Oregon, and California. While we are saddened by the cancellation of our event, we make the decision proudly and without doubt in order to best serve our people and our communities of Pacific Islanders and the greater Seattle area.

Please stay tuned for more information regarding our next Fa'a'ori in 2021! For all other events between now and then, please see our Current Events page.

To see highlights from our 2019 event, please see below:

View photos and info of our 2019 event:

Photography by Sharon H. Chang

July 6, 2019

Aloha a ‘ia ora na!

Sending a mahalo a māuruuru roa - many, many thanks to all of you who joined Huraiti Mana at our First Annual Fa'a'ori! We hope you enjoyed spending time with all of us for this special occasion. Our goal in this showcase was to give our huraiti a cause to dance! We wanted to create a welcoming space for and give thanks to our supportive 'ohana, as well as celebrate with and contribute to our Polynesian Islander community here in the Pacific Northwest.

In our first event, we truly, truly enjoyed ourselves. The months of planning, weeks of organizing, and countless hours of sewing, weaving, practicing, and so much more has been an incredibly fulfilling experience for each of us at Huraiti Mana. The Fa'a'ori has brought us all closer together in more ways than one, and we could not have done it without the support of our loved ones.

We have learned a lot and are so grateful that you chose to give us your help, time, and love. We hope you choose to continue on this journey of growth with Huraiti Mana.

Mahalo nui loa to those who helped sponsor our event: 4Culture, Sharon H. Chang Photography, Cakes of Paradise, and Koloa Kreations Catering. You are incredible, talented, and amazing people!

Māuruuru to all of our fabulous volunteers! Our early-morning set-up crew, collage-creaters, ushers, admissions crew, merchandise booth, Lei’ala’s Lei Stand, regalia-making crew, incredible emcee Aunty Jeannie, my nephews (the toddlers collecting your ticket stubs), o ku’u ipo and DJ Kitman, runners, and clean-up crew; all so selfless and giving, so dedicated and supportive.

Mahalo to our vendors Wing Luke Museum, Kiana’s Hawaiian Jewelry, Franada ‘Ohana Bake Sale, Ken Tran videography, and once again Koloa Kreations and Sharon H. Chang photography.

Many thanks to Kiana’s Hawaiian Jewelry, Wing Luke Museum, Seattle Mariners and Seattle Children’s Museum for donating to our door raffle grand prize! And much mahalo to our fabulous emcee Aunty Jeannie for her donations of all of our game giveaways.

We shared laughs, stories, tears of joy, and mana – our life energy, our spiritual power. That is what we hope to continue to share with you at Huraiti Mana.

A moe na te hiro’a! A moe na te iho tumu!

Think about your culture! Think about your identity!

WE are Huraiti Mana.

Māuruuru roa,

Kalei’okalani Matsui
Ha’api’i/Ra’atira, Huraiti Mana

Photography by Jojo Gaon

Welcome to Huraiti Mana's First Annual Fa'a'ori!

Fa'a'ori is of Reo Tahiti, the Tahitian language, meaning "to cause to dance." Through dance, Huraiti Mana has been able to grow a community of diverse, hardworking, insightful, and passionate Huraiti, "skilled dancers," coming from all over Washington, from across the Pacific, and from all levels of experience with Polynesian culture, dance, and practices. Our First Annual Fa'a'ori serves to demonstrate the culture we have created together that embodies the deeply-rooted Polynesian values of aloha (love), 'ohana (family), and ha'aheo (pride).

Join us as we feature 'ono grinds (delicious food!) from Koloa Kreations Catering; vendors including Kiana's Hawaiian jewelry, Franada Family Bake Sale, Wing Luke Museum, and more; a fresh palm-leaf weaving workshop; dessert by Cakes of Paradise; and a performance featuring all of our Huraiti in originally choreographed hula and ori Tahiti numbers. Come out to support your 'ohana, from our youngest huraiti to our newest dancers!

Every ticket purchased comes with food and is entered into a door raffle for a grand prize!

Event: Huraiti Mana First Annual Fa'a'ori
Date: Saturday, July 6, 2019
Time: 12:30PM - 4:00PM
Place: Nisei Vets Hall in Seattle's Chinatown-International District; 1212 S King St Seattle, WA 98144

Schedule:

12:30PM | Doors Open, Vendors, Workshops, Seating
- Kiana's Hawaiian Jewelry
- Franada Family Bake Sale
- Wing Luke Museum
- Huraiti Mana merchandise table
- Palm weaving workshop with Roldy Ablao
1:00PM | Buffet Opens by Koloa Kreations Catering
2:00PM | Huraiti Mana Showcase
3:30PM | Grand Raffle Prize & Cake by Cakes of Paradise
4:00PM | Close

E haere mai!