AFI O LE Pasefika
=Ori Tahiti & Polynesia=
IA ORANA! TALOFA! Our Polynesian Dances are rooted in “Ori Tahiti” Tahitian Dance and the Siva Afi is part of our 105 yrs old legacy that stemmed from the “Father of the Fire Knife Dance” Paramount Chief Olo “Freddie” Letuli. This passion was passed down to his daughter Aunty Tali Goeas. Today, continuing the legacy is Aunty Tali’s daughter, our Afi O Le Pasefika and Le ‘Ori Afi Hawai’i Leader and Creative Director, Taliilani “Tali” Kamana’olana Letuli-Goeas.
Coming from a family of entertainers and with the guidance from her mentors, Mevina and Napua Liufau, Tali strives to perpetuate the Polynesian culture through dance, storytelling at its finest.
With our Heavenly Father God’s grace and guidance, we have been blessed to train and compete with the best dancers in the world from workshops in Japan, the Tahiti World Cup, and hosting the annual Legacy - Siva Afi Fire Knife Competition at Sea Life Park Fire Knife on O'ahu.
Afi O Le Pasefika Japan is led by “Hura Tau - experienced dancer” Edrianne Dianna “Kahiau” ‘Ekekela Flores-Arend who will be assisting Tali in teaching two forms of Ori Tahiti. The first is “The Otea” choreographed around a theme and its lively drums and made up of rhythmical motifs called pehe supported by the drums or “Pahu” and percussions or “To’ere.” The second form of is “The Aparima” - or the “kiss of the hands” to the sound of guitars and songs gesturing daily life or feelings whose story perpetuates the Polynesian oral tradition similar to Hula ‘Auana.