TATOU FESTival

Tatou Fest grows and serves the Pacific Island community in NYC and internationally by creating space where Pacific Islanders gather and celebrate in unity and love while honoring each others’ artistry and ancestry while building a harmonious, supportive community. Our focus is cultivating safe space for the expansion of Pacific Island voices and to foster artistic innovation while building alliances with and engaging New York City’s diverse cultural community. Our leadership provides continually increasing cultural workshops and master classes, and levels up the production value for performances providing a more transportive curated experience each year.

  • Group of dancers in black costumes performing on stage with dramatic lighting.

    Ori Tahiti Competition

    Some of the best dancers and groups from around the globe, showcase their skills and talents competing for top placement.

  • Group of dancers performing with white fabric on stage under green lighting.

    Engaging Performances

    Highlighting Moanan traditions and creating space for contemporary reflections and creations.

  • Theater workshop with participants in a discussion circle, in a room with green decorated curtains.

    Moana Nui Workshops

    Gain first hand experience from experts in our community who have fine tuned their craft. Siva Samoa, Taualunga, Vivo, Hula, Olelo Hawaii, Lei Making, Weaving, Ukulele, Drumming…

  • Group of dancers practicing in a theater with concrete walls and overhead lighting.

    Master Classes

    For more in depth training, attendees hone their technique, learn complex choreography, enhance their expressiveness, and connection to the cultural dances.

  • Woman in green floral off-shoulder dress with shell necklace, outdoors with greenery.

    Pacific Island Market

    In New York City, you will only find come of these amazing artists’ and artisans’ unique work here.

Celebrate with us

Our schedule of events includes a unique Pacific Island Market, captivating Performances, a selection of Cultural Workshops and Master Classes, and an Ori Tahiti Competition, showcasing some of the best dancers and groups from around the world. Join us for this rare, highly anticipated event, New York City’s premiere Ta’ata Moana (Pacific Islander) Festival.

Making history together!

New York City’s first

Pacific Island Festival

Men performing traditional Ori Tahiti cultural dance wearing feathered headdresses and skirts on stage.

Tatou Festival, formerly Heiva Pasifika NYC, created by Te Ao Mana, is a Ta’ata Moana Nui (Pacific Islander) festival and Ori Tahiti competition.  Over 40,000 Pacific Islanders live in New York, yet investment in this community is overlooked.  Some of the values that underlie Polynesian cultures, mana, family, community, and reverence for and a connection to nature, a commitment to protecting our natural resources, can be celebrated by everyone. 

The festival will connect New York City and surrounding areas to Polynesian artisans and crafters, drummers, musicians, dancers, orators, performance troupes, cultural specialists and professionals.  Polynesians are essentially an untapped wellspring of living knowledge.  It is our desire to further enrich the city’s cultural landscape with our unique event.  People of all ages are welcome. The focus is on creating an immersive experience and allowing participants to learn about a culture typically not represented on a large scale in NYC.

Surfacing the values and spiritual foundation of Polynesian Culture will enrich the fabric of New York City. Participants will walk away with a deeper sense of self and their connection to nature, their surroundings, and the community in which they live. They will gain a vivid working knowledge of the featured cultures. A stronger sense of community will be formed as festival attendees engage in the planned activities. Members of the Polynesian community will gain a larger sense of identity and visibility in New York City and be afforded opportunities to expand their creativity.

Our Team

Creating any event that brings communities together requires a lot of work, countless hours, organizational skill, flexible planning, patience, lots of people, good communication, and love. We are so thankful for our committee, their dedication, and determination. Our team has been logging countless volunteer hours to program a fantastic event for all of you. TATOU FEST is anxiously anticipated and we are thrilled to see it grow each year. We have been working tirelessly to bring together the best of the Pacific Islands. There are many interactive engagements to experience and participate in. Please share this community building opportunity with your family and friends and join our initiative to grow together.