Celebrating Tongan Skills At Laie Fest
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Del.icio.usBack to the Roots, a non-profit organization formed recently by former Kahuku High football head coach Siuaki Livai, will sponsor its first Tonga Festival from Dec. 12 to 15 in Laie.
The cultural festivities will include a traditional fakaaliali ngoue or agricultural show, which is a traditional Tongan competition where farmers are rewarded for cultivating the best and largest produce. Also planned are mixed volleyball matches in the BYU-Hawaii old gym and men’s tennis at the BYUH courts from 6 to 11 p.m. Dec. 12 and 13. Youth and men’s rugby matches are from 2 to 6 p.m. Dec. 13 and 14 at Laie Park. A talent and dance show is set for 7 to 11:30 p.m. Dec. 14, also in the college’s old gym.
“We have almost 20 talents, mostly singers who will perform that night,” said Livai.“It’s more of a performance because we felt a competition would be too much pressure. And, of course, on Saturday we might use some of them to perform on stage while the main event is going on.”
Concluding the festival will be the agricultural show from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 15 at Laie Park. The games begin at 1 p.m., followed by an awards presentation at 2.
“When I look at it, it’s a combination of a culture day and a farmer’s market,” said Livai.“It’s a traditional event in Tonga, and it was one of the activities that we used to have while growing up. I believe it was 1992 that the last one was held at Laie Park.”
Booths are available for the agricultural show and may be reserved by logging on to www.tongafestival.com or calling Livai at 384-4013.
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