As the Heiva I Bora Bora 2016 unfolds to reveal the Polynesian’s love to celebrate in a spirit of joy through song & dance, here’s Bora Bora Insider’s: “A Photo A Day” – a pictorial guide taking readers on an adventure through the Heiva.
Each day Bora Bora Insider will select a photo or two & publish them in chronological order to keep readers abreast of what is happening in ‘real time’…….
LET THE HEIVA COMMENCE:
Where else to start but with a shot ‘at training’ – dancers & musicians train every night for up to 2 months in advance………& in the interim, hand-make their own costumes!!!!
THE OPENING CEREMONY
DAY 1 – 17th June, 2016 – NUNUE & ANAU’s DAY:
DAY 2 – 18th June, 2016 – ANAU & FAANUI’S DAY
DAY 3 – Sunday, 19th June – SUNDAY RECAP THE WEEK
DAY 4 – 20th June, 2016 – A NEW WEEK
No time for fishing, the fish ‘shop’ is fine………. Time to make my ‘more’ (Tahitian costume):
EVERYBODY in Bora is involved in the Heiva; EVERYTHING performers wear – 4 separate costumes – is made by them, by hand, from essentially local vegetal materials. It’s the same in every Tahitian home on the island…..I just slipped literally next door to snap these shots of Manuotai & Rahera hard at work:
The ‘more’ (white attire) is made from the bark of the ‘purau’ tree (large hibiscus tree). The beads come from the miro trees growing on Matira Beach, shells adorn many items, pandanus forms the basis of belts, hats & upper body wear, whilst the cups of the brassiere are fashioned from coconuts……..
This ‘dry leaf’ costume is fashioned from niau (coconut fronds) & secured with pandanus:
Dress making – the belt made from pandanus, the leaves from ‘auti’, the sacred plant:
The ‘hatua’ (belt) worn by the women dancers high around their waist & giving the mind-boggling level of hip movement in the Ori Tahiti :
A wonderful necklace:
The whole outfit took Rahera just over 3 hours to make. In the foreground the ‘ahu auti’ (dress) covered by the ‘hatua’; in the background the necklace, head-piece & floral lei complete the outfit:
Tonight we dance!
DAY 5 – 21st June,2016 – FAANUI & TIIPOTO’S DAY
Do you recognise this guy; recognise the costume ………. Goooo Manuotai:
DAY 6 – 22nd June, 2016 – TRIBUTE TO THE JUDGES & ORCHESTRAS
Rain, hail or shine, the judges are present:
The ‘toere’ is the true ‘director of ceremonies‘ – it directs the dancer’s every movement & keeps the orchestra playing in unison:
DAY 7 – 23rd June, 2016 – THE DAY OF COPRA
DAY 8 – 24th June, 2016 – PATIA FA (Javelin), TIIPOTO & AMANAHUNE
DAY 9 – 25th June, 2016 – AMANAHUNE & NUNUE’S DAY
DAY 10 – 26th June, 2016 – SUNDAY RECAP OF THE WEEK
DAY 11 – 27th June, 2016 – ARTISAN, FLOATS & ORCHESTRAS.
DAY 12 – 28th June, 2016 – TRIATHLON MAOHI
DAY 13 – 29th June, 2016 – TUARO MAOHI (Traditional Sport). (Photos by Bora Bora Insider)
The winning style:
Sylvain, a legend in Bora Bora, tore the husk from a coconut with his teeth, before cracking it open on a rock using his head!!!
DAY 14 – 30th June, 2016 – We’re ‘Half Way’…”Let The Competition Start” – NUNUE & ANAU
DAY 15 – 1st July, 2016 – ANAU & FAANUI. (Photos by Bora Bora Insider)
DAY 16 – 2nd July, 2016 – FAANUI & TIIPOTO. (Certain photos by Bora Bora Insider)
DAY 17 – 3rd July, 2016 – SUNDAY RECAP OF THE WEEK.
DAY 18 – 4th July, 2016 – VA’A (outrigger canoes). TIIPOTO & AMANAHUNE (Photos from here onwards by Bora Bora Insider)
DAY 19 – 5th July, 2016 – VA’A. AMANAHUNE & NUNUE
DAY 20 – 6th July, 2016 – ARTISANAL WEAVING
85 years old – first to set up….& first to finish the competition. Well done Mama!
DAY 21 – 7th July, 2016 – BEST INDIVIDUAL DANCERS, BEST ORCHESTRA
DAY 22 – 8th July, 2016 – AGRICULTURAL FAIR
DAY 23 – 9th July, 2016 – FISHING, VA’A. PRIZE-GIVING – BEST COUPLE (Dance)
This year’s winning catch – 205kgs! See it all here at: Fishing Bora Bora Heiva
DAY 24 – 10th July, 2016 – ECUMENICAL CONCERT. RECAP OF THE WEEK.
DAY 25 – 11th July, 2016 – LES BARAQUES – Eating Out.
DAY 26 – 12th July, 2016 – KID’s DAY
DAY 27 – 13th July, 2016 – FREE DAY
DAY 28 – 14th July, 2016 – Bastille Day. ‘TOUR DE BORA BORA’ (Cycling)
DAY 29 – 15th July, 2016 – FREE DAY
DAY 30 – 16th July, 2016 – VA’A (marathon)
DAY 31 – 17th July, 2016 – SUNDAY RECAP OF THE WEEK
DAY 32 – 18th July, 2016 – BEACH SPORTS (Soccer)
DAY 33 – 19th July, 2016 – BEACH SPORTS (Soccer). Winner’s Dance
Tamarii Faanui – Fitting winners of the Heiva I Bora Bora 2016.
DAY 34 – 20th July, 2016 – FREE DAY
DAY 35 – 21st July, 2016 – BEACH SPORTS (Volley-Ball)
DAY 36 – 22nd July, 2016 – Hotel’s Day.
DAY 37 – 23rd July, 2016 – RAID ANEI. TAMARII HITIAA
The Heiva I Bora Bora 2016 would formerly close at 3am on Sunday morning. It is said: “a picture paints a thousand words” – so we have decided to dedicate a pictorial report to the coverage of this year’s Heiva.
Look forward to seeing you at the Heiva I Bora Bora 2017!
