A label of an idea

Tuesday, 5 August 2008

We all came to Pago Pago to learn, to contribute and to be inspired. We watched, listened and made new friends. But for most of us, it wasn’t enough to leave with just memories.

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A garland complete

Friday, 1 August 2008

Su’iga’ula a le atuvasa means the threading of the ula or garland. And at the 10th Pacific Festival of the Arts, the saying was chosen to signify the threading of Oceania, its peoples and cultures - past, present and future.

So for anyone present at the closing ceremony, it was hard not to marvel at how, theme or no theme, the celebrations wove together like one seamless ula.

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Festival farewells

Wednesday, 30 July 2008

Outside Australias fale at the festival village, singer Kerryanne Cox’s lyrics wafted across the green, “No matter how far I go, my feet will carry me home” and the tears welled up in my eyes. Why am I so emotional?! Because it was at that moment that I realised the closing days of this festival were upon us. The farewells were beginning.

Down on Utulei Beach, the Tahitians took to the performance stage one last time with their pulsing rhythms and shaking grass skirts. But the pace slowed for a moment and the group lined up at the front of the stage to sing a farewell song. The crowd responded.

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