E OLA MAU

E OLA MAU is a landmark gathering of local and international artists converging in Te Tai Tokerau for the region’s first large‑scale cultural exchange. This project weaves Indigenous knowledge sharing through wānanga, traditional storytelling, kanikapila, and intergenerational learning — Koe Atuhau moe tau Lotomatala. It brings together the embodied movements of Siva Afi, Hula, and Kapa Haka, forming a living tapestry of Pacific heritage.

In our Pacific worldview, the ocean does not divide us — it is the highway that connects us. Northland now has the rare opportunity to engage with two world‑class practitioners: Siva Afi experts, Hawaiian cultural practitioner as well as Polynesian performer artists.

By bringing these cultural artists into our Northland schools, we are actively weaving the threads of our Pacific family back together, revitalising ancient ties through dance, language, and whakawhanaungatanga. Your support helps our rangatahi see themselves not as isolated islands, but as part of a vast, vibrant, and powerful global village.

E OLA MAU - The proposed program.

We are still in the development phase of E OLA MAU project – the following provides an idea collaborative and interactive workshops and spaces for the Te Tai Tokerau community.

• World‑Class Performance: High‑energy Hula and Siva Afi demonstrations.

• Hands‑On Learning: Students will not only watch — they will learn foundational footwork and the deep cultural meaning behind each movement.

• Reciprocal Exchange: A dedicated space for school Kapa Haka groups to share their own mana with our visiting artists.

• Strengthening Pasifika Ties: Exploring the shared Great Ocean narratives that connect Aotearoa, Samoa, and Hawai‘i.

• Curriculum Enrichment: Exposure to global dance disciplines, rhythm, and ancestral storytelling to support the arts curriculum.

• Whakawhanaungatanga: Upholding relationships by creating opportunities for local Kapa Haka groups to engage in meaningful cultural exchange with international guests.

We are Co-Producers of the E OLA MAU project, Finemoka Fotuhetule (Taonga O Te Moana ĀTUI’TUI’IA - Pacific Pathways), Ellen Kahunani Kanaumu Ka’aumoana Akiona-Hafoka (Hālau Kalama Kumu Alaka'i/Kalama Polynesian Dancers) and Amo Ieriko (Siva Afi Aotearoa/ Polynesian Entertainers). 

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TAONGA O TE MOANA, Northland. NZ.

Finemoka Fotuhetule (Cook Islands–Niue, NZ‑born) is the Director and Founder of Taonga O Te Moana, an organisation dedicated to strengthening connections between rangatahi in Te Tai Tokerau and their Pacific heritage through traditional dance, song, and the arts.  Now based in Waipū, she has spent the past four years nurturing cultural identity in Northland, delivering weekly classes for youth aged 5–17 and teaching across kura in Whangārei and Bream Bay.  Under her leadership, Taonga O Te Moana has supported the cultural growth of 30–50 students each year, creating a vibrant, inclusive space for young people to explore and deepen their cultural knowledge.

Finemoka coordinates numerous performance opportunities that allow tamariki to share their culture proudly with Northland communities, including Matariki celebrations, Fusion Pasifika, Rodney Youth Festival, Waitangi Day, and the regional youth showcase *TAONGA*. Her daughters have paved the way for Northland representation at the Auckland Intermediate Schools Cook Islands Dance Competition, placing 1st and 2nd in 2023 and 2024. In a historic milestone, Taonga O Te Moana became the first Northland group to perform on the Cook Islands Stage at ASB Polyfest 2025 and at Pasifika Festival 2025. Through dance, music, and storytelling, Finemoka is committed to empowering young people with identity, pride, and a deep connection to their roots.

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Ellen Kahunani Kanaumu Ka’amoana Akiona-Hafoka - Colorado, USA.

Ellen has been a devoted student of Hula for over 50 years. Born and raised in Haleʻiwa, Oʻahu and now residing in Aurora, Colorado, she teaches Hula, lei making, and cultural studies for Hālau Kalama, guiding Jr. Keiki, Adults, and Gracious Ladies. Ellen credits her foundational training to her Kumu Hula, Queenie Freitas of Haleʻiwa and Leialoha Lee of Wahiawā, and she has been further shaped by esteemed teachers such as Glenda Florez, Dani Lei Martin, Hansen Simi Fiso Paialiʻi, Mahealani Mika Hiram‑Solem, Kumu Kauʻi Dalire, Kumu Kuana Torres Kahele, and Kumu Kona Garcia. She believes Hula is the foundation through which she leads her life, with the Values of Aloha reminding her that we are all lifelong learners. As an instructor, Ellen weaves cultural protocol, oli, the meanings behind each mele, and the teaching of Na Waiwai into her classes, alongside hands‑on cultural practices such as lei and costume making, ensuring her students gain a deep and authentic understanding of Hawaiian culture.

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SIVA AFI AOTEAROA, POLYNESIAN ENTERTAINERS, SIVA AFI FESTIVAL. NZ.

Amo Ieriko is the Director of Siva Afi Aotearoa, leading national efforts to preserve, advance, and celebrate the art of *siva ailao afi* across Aotearoa. With more than 30 years of experience in Pacific performing arts advocacy, Amo has dedicated her career to strengthening cultural pathways that empower communities and ensure the long‑term sustainability of this dynamic and culturally significant discipline.

Her work focuses on expanding access to siva afi through education, performance, and community engagement, creating opportunities for emerging practitioners and fostering inclusive spaces where Pacific heritage can thrive. Guided by a commitment to cultural integrity and intergenerational knowledge, Amo continues to champion siva afi as a powerful expression of identity, resilience, and collective pride.

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Ikaika Kamealoha Jordan Mafi Hafoka - Colorado, USA.

Ikaika has been a hula dancer for 12 years under the direction of Glenda Florez, Ellen Akiona, and Dani Lei Martin. He has also learned from Kumu Hula, Kuana Torres Kahele and Mahealani Mika Hiram-Solem.  He was born in Kihei, Maui and currently lives in Aurora, Colorado. Ikaika is married to Ellen Akiona and they have 2 children.  Ikaika continues to learn the ways of his ancestors by sharing his love for hula ‘auana and hula kahiko with others.

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Sierra Kawailele - Colorado, USA.

Hula has always been a way of life — a vessel through which Hawaiian people tell stories, share memories, and express emotion. Sierra, born and raised in Colorado and of Hawaiian–Norwegian descent, grew up learning Hula from her mother, Ellen Akiona, who ensured that her children remained connected to the heartbeat of their culture despite living far from the islands. Through Hula, Sierra met esteemed practitioners, attended Merrie Monarch, and performed for large audiences, deepening her understanding that Hula is far more than dance it is identity, memory, and lifeforce. Her journey later expanded into Siva Afi, which she began in 2017, finding in it another pathway back to her Polynesian roots. Now a Toa Afi Orlando Women’s Champion (2022) and Top 3 Wāhine at the Siva Afi Festival (2023, NZ), Sierra continues to dance with Kalama Polynesian Dancers, driven by a commitment to share culture, uplift her sisters, and represent the rising generation of wāhine in Siva Afi.

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Tim Noyce – One Tree Point, Northland. NZ.

Tim Noyce is a seasoned Siva Afi practitioner whose journey began in 2012 under the mentorship of former Samoan champions Leni Leota and Kome Feagaiaalii Senior. A founding member of TahiMana, he went on to win the inaugural NZ TahiMana Competition in 2016, establishing himself as a leading figure in the Aotearoa fire‑knife community.

Tim has represented Aotearoa on regional and international stages, placing third at the 2018 Cook Islands Vaimatina Masters of the Flame Competition and securing third place in the duo division in Samoa in 2019. Alongside his performance career, he has played a significant role in youth development, organising and delivering secondary school Siva Afi competitions in Auckland and Gisborne, and mentoring emerging performers including the winner and runner‑up of the 2021 Aotearoa Siva Afi Festival.

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In Collaboration.

Takahiwai Marae(TBC), Ruakākā School(TBC),, Bream Bay College(TBC), Taonga O Te Moana, Whangārei Girls' High(TBC), Whangārei Intermediate(TBC), Hihiaua Cultural Centre(TBC), Fale Pasifika(TBC), Otamatea Marae(TBC), Otamatea High School(TBC), Maungaturoto Primary(TBC), SIVA AFI FESTIVAL, Polynesian Entertainers, Siva Afi Aotearoa, Hālau Kalama, TahiMana Polynesian Fire Warriors.

The BOOSTED campaign seeks to support the following to make this initiative a success.

• International flights from the US.
• Accommodation for International guests.
• Travel and meals expenses for the international guests.
• Hiring of project van and fuel.
• Project Team – Local Schools and Community groups Liaison Person.
• Programme Coordinator.
• Media/ Documentation Team – social media, photography and filming documentation.
• Koha for local engagement Maraes.
• Fire Fuel for workshops and performances.
• E OLA MAU Operational Team.

E OLA MAU - Activities and Engagements

Taiaha/Rākau & Siva Afi Exchange 

This exchange focuses on Taiaha/Rākau and Siva Afi knowledge and techniques, with optional female activities depending on practitioner protocols. It also includes Kai Moana tikanga, covering customs, respect for the sea, intergenerational knowledge of water safety, and kaitiakitanga, followed by collecting kai for lunch or dinner. The session is led by Ikaika, a Siva Afi and Taiaha/Rākau practitioner, alongside iwi representatives. The preferred venue is Waipū Cove or Johnston Point, with a marae or community centre as a wet-weather alternative. Other possible locations include Marsden Point or Ruakākā Beach. The exchange runs for 3.5 to 5 hours, with 1.5 hours per activity, a 30-minute break, and a 1.5-hour Kai Moana session. This takes place over one school day and involves the overseas team, iwi representatives, Taiaha practitioners, high school students or kapa haka groups, and teachers.

Lei/Ei Making & Basket Weaving 

This session includes lei/ei making using natural resources and basket weaving to support the hāngī experience. It is facilitated by Ellen and Sierra, master weavers, with support from local iwi in areas where resource collection is permitted. The venue is a local marae or community centre. The workshop runs for 3 to 4 hours with a 30-minute break, scheduled for a morning wānanga. Participants include the overseas team, weavers, and the local community.

Hawaiian Medicine, Food & Māori Rongoā 

This wānanga explores Hawaiian food traditions and Māori rongoā, focusing on wellbeing and health. It is led by Ellen Akiona, a Hawaiian food specialist, alongside a rongoā practitioner and local iwi/hapū. The venue options include Fale Pasifika, Tokotoko Sol, a local marae, or a community centre. The session runs for 3 to 4 hours with a 30-minute break, held in the morning. Participants include the overseas team, rongoā practitioners, and the local community.

Hāngī Experience & Overseas Performances Exchange 

This exchange centres on hāngī knowledge, tikanga, food collection, preparation, cooking, and sharing kai, combined with performances from the overseas team. It involves local iwi representatives, local schools, students, and the overseas team. The venue is a local marae or school. The experience spans 1 to 1.5 days and includes the overseas team, local schools, and students.

Pacific Communities of Te Tai Tokerau Gathering 

This gathering brings together Pacific communities of Te Tai Tokerau for introductions, shared views, and discussions about future collaboration and collective benefits. It includes Samoan and Hawaiian community connections, shared performances, and potentially an ava ceremony. Facilitators include Tokotoko Sol, Fale Pasifika, Amo Ieriko, and representatives from Samoan and Hawaiian communities. The venue is Fale Pasifika or Tokotoko Sol, with final confirmation pending. The gathering runs for 2 to 4 hours with a dinner break, held in the evening. Participants include the overseas team, Fale Pasifika or Tokotoko Sol teams, and the wider community.

Waipū Coastline Walk 

This activity is a guided walk along the Waipū coastline, starting at the Cove and finishing at Langs Beach. It includes local knowledge about the landscape and its cultural significance, beginning with tikanga Māori and karakia, and closing with Hawaiian and Samoan customs of thanks. The walk is led by iwi representatives and the overseas team. The primary route is Waipū Cove to Langs Beach, with Takahiwae as an alternative location. The walk takes approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes, followed by morning tea or lunch. Participants include the overseas team, local representatives, school students, and community members.

School Visits – Kapa Haka & Cultural Immersion 

These visits involve pōwhiri, kapa haka exchanges, and cultural immersion sessions between the overseas team and Northland schools. Kapa haka tutors and groups participate alongside students. Schools may include Ruakākā Primary, Bream Bay College, Otamatea High School, and Whangārei Girls’ High School, with details open for discussion. Each exchange runs for approximately 90 minutes and includes the overseas team, school staff, students, and kapa haka groups.

Hihiaua Cultural Centre Visit 

This visit explores the contemporary Māori arts precinct at Hihiaua Cultural Centre, including traditional arts, weaving, and carving. It also includes online and social media reflections. The session involves the overseas team and others, runs for 2 to 3 hours, and includes participation from the community and school students.

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Proposed - CULTURAL EXCHANGE:  90-Minute school session

Phase 1

o   Formal Welcome & Introduction.

o   Pōwhiri/Mihi Whakatau: School reception and opening remarks.

o   The International guests: A brief, high-impact joint demonstration by the cultural artists to captivate the students immediately

Phase 2

o   (Siva Afi): Students learn the ailao (spinning) basics.

o   (Hula): Students learn a basic oli (chant) and the ha‘ina (hand gestures) for a short verse.

o   Groups that include boys can continue for another 20mins with Siva Afi Master, whilst girls that want to try Hula can change swap over

Phase 3

o   (Philosophy & History) - Talanoa Session: The Masters bring the full group together to discuss the mana (power) and kuleana (responsibility) of their respective crafts.

o   Interactive Q&A: Students, Teachers & Masters.

Phase 4 - GRAND FINALE - Collaborative Showcase.

o   The Masters perform a final piece, inviting student leaders/students to join in with the movements they just learned.

E OLA MAU is more than a performance,  it is a living cultural exchange that our rangatahi can see, hear, and physically experience.

When international and expert cultural arts practitioners stand alongside local Kapa Haka and community groups, our young people feel what the kaupapa teaches:

• The moana is not a boundary, it is our connection. Bringing this mahi into Northland schools and communities strengthens identity and belonging through embodied learning, through movement and language, through storytelling, so these taonga are learnt through livid experience and intergenerational exchanges, not just through textbooks.
• Northland should back this initiative because it builds long-term cultural capability in the region: it uplifts local tauira and tutors, creates pathways for youth leadership, and strengthens relationships between marae, schools, and Pasifika networks through whakawhanaungatanga and shared learning.
• Siva Afi should back it because it protects the integrity and future of the discipline by teaching correct foundations, safety, values, and the practical meaning behind the art while expanding access beyond the usual centres and creating a strong, positive platform for wāhine and tāne to grow.

Supporting E OLA MAU is an investment in connection, pride, and wellbeing for Te Tai Tokerau, a once-in-a-generation opportunity to weave our Pacific family ties back together through excellence, reciprocity, and aroha.