Turanganui Kapa Haka Festival

Turanganui Kapa Haka festival

Applause flooded the room as Wai syndicate finished performing.  I followed everyone to the grass area where we got our piupiu on. As I swayed around with the piupiu I suddenly felt excited. Backstage we felt anxious with nerves but as the last performance strode off stage it was time. All the practice we had put into this moment soon paid off. 

Scanning the audience there were many familiar faces all staring up at us. The strum of the guitar started our performance as we strided forward for the the first waiata into a triangle formation. Soon we gathered into a small crowd and chanted haramai a paoa. We scattered out into our lines for our next song. Ka pioioi. My piu piu swayed to the beat of the takihia.  Cheering grew throughout the hall as we finished our song moving onto the poi. "Poi Kiamo." Matiria commanded. We soon finished our poi song and moved onto the transition waiata, where the boys chanted overtop.  The boys did the haka and we finished with a few more songs coming through. As we left the stage I wanted  to do it all again. 

I found Nicky and my mum for photos. They were so proud of our performance and congratulated us before leaving. I folded up my piu piu and put it back in the stocking. I felt tired and hungry and wanted to go home. On the way back to school I nearly fell asleep. My highlight was Utina and Kapi oi oi. I loved the experience and am so proud.