Costume Making Fun/ First Huaka'i performance


We had an opportunity to advertise Huaka'i by being the main entertainment for a Luau this past weekend. 
Which meant our keiki and adult hlua classes got a chance to perform!
 And our family "performing team" (lol don't know what to call it ) got to dance!
It's was a  good dress rehearsal for all our dancers as well as a good challenge for Aljay and I to create costumes and put together a simple show. 

 Being a new group, however, means starting from scratch (something Aljay and I are used to by now). So for the past month we've been making costumes and accessories  :)

 and It has been sooo FUN!!! and tiring...but mostly fun!

We love doing these kinds of things...

We love the challenge of having to find materials, trying to make do with what we are able to find, trying new things, learning new things, failing, trying again, failing again, working (sometimes arguing) together over how something should be made or how it should look (I tell you when Aljay has his mind set or an idea in his head, he won't stop till he gets to create it and show it....luckily I am so easy to work with and not the least bit fiapoko LOL) ....and yeah...explaining it. 

 Anyways....

Here's some of the stuff we made and the final product!

maori earring
laufa'i kauvaes
from the back

My first pa'u skirt that turned out better than what I was expecting...cheeehhee!!! It's the first real adult size thing I've ever sewn....(I don't consider my one tie, an attempted infant dress, apron that was already prepped for sewing, and an ie faitaga as actual sewing...more like attempting... or finishing what someone else already laid out nice and pretty for you to just sew together).




Here's pics from the show!

We didn't use the green pa'u skirt for the show, it was just for practice, but it turned out nicer than I thought and gave me the confidence to be able to sew all the keiki costumes. BIG THANKS to ARY and UNCLE MIA for helping me finish the skirts :)
Their kahiko costumes. Made anklets, bracelets, pa'u skirts, and pa'u tops. 

Made the flowers for Little Grass Shack lol

The adult women's class was easier (costume wise) because I only had to make the head piece and leis. There was no way I would've been able to sew their dresses and have it come out so nice. 

The girl's Maori costume- made the earrings, black bodice, pois, belt, and cape thing.
Love these two- Ary and Teisa

Tonga Costume- Uncle Mia had this biiiigggg tapa so Aljay designed the ta'ovalas and the lei he wore from the tapa.  Ary and I made the feather wristbands  and tekis. 
Henna, Aljay, Uncle Mia
Samoa costume- made the Kauvaes, kiki skirts, ies.

Tahiti Costume- Aljay designed the girls hipbands, and I made the headpieces and red dresses. 
So pretty these two. And how bout Teisa is five months pregnant!!! She hit it!

Men's Tahiti costume- pretty much everything besides the leis were made.

And theres Lahvjal!!!!! He made his own costume lol. 
Everything turned out better than expected! It was cool to see the show and costuming come together. I was really proud of all of us and our efforts in putting everything together. 

BIG MAHALOS to Unclie Mia, Aunty Kim, Henna and Teisa, Ary, Lahvjal, and Aljay and of course all the countless people who helped us get our needed items together for the show. 
 Although I didn't get to dance, I had fun being backstage wardrobe/stagecrew/camera girl lol....ioe...please call me Mama San.

Here are some more pics and videos from the show that I was able to get. 

Was trying to get a decent shot of these guys before Maori.
Had plenny time to get pics of these two super models lol


This was taken at home after he made his feathers. Wish I had a pic of his full Maori costume from the night of the show cuz he sure did make his own Maori costume and it sure did look nice. 

These girls were soooo cute and did a great job with their dances!! 


Darren was there with his kids. It was so good to see them!

Lahvjal getting ready to fireknife....alllll the waaayyyy in the outfield  lol...Kalofae this guy was fahreeeezzing.... How bout he never even warm up or stretch....aaannd he was dancing in higher altitudes. Poor guy was bout to pass out after dancing. 

Dis guy and Hennas left arm. 
 These are the only videos I was able to catch on my camera. Hopefully people who recorded or who have better pics will post em so I can add them to this post.














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