The Unique Savages (Fiafia Night Niuean Group)

I know it has been a while, but I still need to add this bit.

Things were getting a bit more intense by the minute. Or even by the second. Me and Brooklyn were now running around like headless chooks trying to get our costumes on. Just as well as getting our hairs look like we're savages. By the time we finished and walked outside to where everyone was sitting, we looked onto the stage and saw that after the Tongan boys would be the unicyclist's, and after the unicyclist's would be us. Things were going really fast while we were changing. And it certainly looked as if the crowd was enjoying it.

Kicking back and chilling with the rest of my Niuean group for the next few minutes enjoying the other 2 groups left before it was our turn, the nerves started to kick in. The same feelings flowed right through just like for the Kapa Haka group. But this was different I felt in the zone. I felt as if I was home. Like this was where my roots came from. It just felt right. Just then as the last lyrics from the unicyclist's song played, it was our turn to stand up and prepare ourselves.

Shoal, then me, then Ata, then Ash, and then Brooklyn were all lined up, holding one of the little girls  hands that were in the front line. We were entering on side wings, but the boys were entering from the front. It was our que and we started to walk onto the stage. Our rafia skirts were rustling, and were lucky enough to make more noise then my heavy breathing. Stevenson then pretended to blow the conch shell, and the boys looking a lot like they were naturals from the island started to make they're way to the stage. The drum started to be beat and the girls were now jogging to the centre stage. First up everyone did the Hopo (jump), then Ta me (Action Song), then my fav part of the night, the Takalo (War Dance).

Our item was over. And we exited the stage. Running through the field back to Room 13 felt awesome. The hip-hop group was performing, and the song they were performing to made the adrenaline pump. We were all so happy and excited by the time we got back to Room 13. Shoal, Huelo-Ata, Ash, Brooklyn and I huddled up and all were chatting to each other like crazy about how exhilarating it felt to be on that stage. After taking photo's we got changed and headed back to where the crowd was.

Overall the night was AMAZING. I loved it to bits. And really wish I could re-live it all over again. But everything couldn't have been possible without all the tutors. Miss Lavakula, and Mrs Lagitupu were our Niuean tutors. A HUGE THANKS goes towards you guys. And also Whaea Sophie, and Whaea Raewen were the tutors for the Kapa-haka group. HUGE THANKS to you guys to. Without all you guys the performances would not have been so awesome!

The Thrills Of Performance (Fiafia night Kapa-Haka Group)

My feet were plastered to the ground hesitating to move forward onto the stage. But it was show time and I proceeded along. I took a huge breath before placing one foot onto the black hard surface called the stage. I was the first person to walk onto the stage and the first person to be greeted by a roaring cheer of my name. "Tena ra kotou nga iwi ote motu nei" started off Whaea Sophie. And along after her voice came the melody of the whole Kapa-Haka group. We sounded amazing, and for sure looked astounding.

The girls Haka started off, and the stage was now full of energy. I was certainly putting all my hard effort into it, as I was one of the kaea's. Straining my fists to form the actions to the Haka, I glared out to the crowd to have a good look at how many estimated people were watching. Most likely over 800 people were out in the crowd, and that's even discluding the schools children that were sitting up in the front.

"Aue hi, aue ha, aue hi" the girls Haka was over, and and I was completely, and utterly out of breath. Now it was the boys turn to astound the crowd. They were so good that I felt like even crying from where I was standing. And I don't usual give away free tears. To even prove how passionate they looked, you could see that they had scratch marks against their chest. As it was one of the actions, to look as if your scraping your hands against your chest.

As soon as the boys haka finished, we then had to sing a song to welcome onto the stage the Junior Kapa-Haka group. From hence forth they performed their own thing that they had been practising for the past 6-7 weeks also. After the All Blacks haka that was performed by everyone on the stage, it was the end of our turn. Well not just quite.

Up stood Lorenz from the crowd. He was doing a haka. A haka to thank us for our hard work and effort and passion we had put into our performance. Then out of nowhere Chantee Lee and another girl ran and joined in with him. It was so awesome to see something like that get performed right in front of your eyes. Something that would rarely happen to you. After he had finished it was now time to look forward to our Niuean performance. But also to embrace the fact that our group had just finished performing. Performing something that we had practised for plenty of weeks. And pulled it off with ease. (Well not really)

The children were led off of the stage first, then the seniors. I took a step onto the grass and started to jump up and down with excitement. "We did it" I turned around and said to Mele.
"You looked awesome" she said to me.
"Haha. Did you do a massive pukana like I told you too" I said to her.
"The biggest one ever" she replied back to me with a huge smile.

We then headed off back to the Library, everyone excited, and happy. But then I think again. Now Brooklyn and I would now have to run back and forth with doing our hair, costume, and especially hair for the Niuean Group performance. Things were now heating up a bit with the atmosphere and all.