KAPA‘A — When the sun sets on the first day of Heiva I Kaua‘i Tahitian dance and drumming competition, the gates will reopen for Po Afi Kaua‘i Samoan Fireknife Competition starting at 6 p ...

A dance group performing during the Heiva Festival. Alamy Here beside the lagoon there's a silence to Tahiti that reflects exactly where it is I am. For this is The end of the road – no bitumen ...

KAILUA-KONA One of Naone Lee-Tolentino s earliest memories is performing Tahitian dance at a competition on Oahu when he was about 5 years old.

Andersen, who recently came back home to Laguna Niguel, was the youngest of 17 Americans to participate in the Heiva I Tahiti, a cultural festival and dance competition.

Finberg promises the program on both days will enchant even those who know nothing about Tahitian music and dance. “Heiva i Kauai is a homegrown, grass-roots event,” she said.

That evening, thousands more fill the seats in Pape’ete’s To’ata Amphitheater as fierce drumming announces the semi-finals of the Heiva dance competition.

KAPA‘A — The 11th annual Heiva I Kaua‘i Iaorana Tahiti will run Saturday and Sunday at Kapa‘a Beach Park this year. The international Tahitian dance and drumming competition includes solo ...

Jean-Marc posts photos of this year's Heiva i Tahiti, Tahiti's biggest festival of traditional dance. La Danse Tahitienne blogs commentary on each group's performance [Fr].

Next year, Tahiti will be home to the surfing competition of the Paris Olympics, almost 10,000 miles away from France. But the region has its own annual games, known as the Heiva.