History of the Heiva

In Tahitian, the word Heiva (hei meaning to assemble, and va meaning community places) refers to cultural activities, pastimes, physical exercise, and festivals. Music, dancing, singing and sporting events have always held an important place in Polynesian communities. In ancient times, they were essential components of religious and political ceremonies. Our New York City iteration of the heiva assembles our pacific island community in sharing and engaging in interactive Pacific Island cultural activities with the diverse New York City population.

Group of people in traditional attire on stage during a cultural ceremony, audience seated in the foreground.
Group performing traditional Polynesian dance in white attire with floral accessories and hats
Traditional cultural dance with performers in colorful attire holding long wooden sticks in an outdoor setting.
Group of men in tropical attire holding long spears, participating in a traditional event.
Aerial view of people in traditional attire dancing on a sandy surface with long sticks.
Group of Indigenous people participating in a cultural gathering, holding bows and arrows, with trees in the background.
Person lifting a large stone in traditional attire during an outdoor event with spectators in background.
Hula dancers in traditional costumes with floral headpieces performing on stage.
Man in traditional Polynesian clothing lifting large stone at cultural event
Person lifting large stone outdoors in traditional attire, trees in background.
Traditional wrestling match with participants wearing green leaf garlands
People in traditional clothing performing a coconut-related activity outdoors.
Group of men running in a plantation festival, carrying banana stalks, while onlookers watch.
Men running in a traditional race carrying banana stalks, wearing colorful wrap-around skirts in a festive outdoor setting.
Women paddling in an orange canoe, wearing floral outfits and headbands, in a water body.
Group of people paddling outrigger canoes in a race on open water.
Traditional Hawaiian musicians playing instruments in cultural attire with greenery in the background.