Pacific Arts Festival Fun

We left cold, rainy and grey Auckland and landed back in Tutuila. It was nice to unpack the bags and settle back home.

The Pacific Arts Festival is in progress at the moment and we spent an afternoon watching a few of the islands sing and dance at Utulei Beach. There's a great atmosphere, with stalls arranged from all the islands selling their handicrafts. There's lots of people getting tattoo's from different artists from around the Pacific. The kids have asked me not to get one, not a problem as I'd rather spend the money on a basket made from the Papua New Guineas or Solomon Islanders.These fair islanders are from Norfolk. Noah says it was his favourite from the afternoon programme. The audience clapped along to their Norfolk Island blues.
The Tongan performance, was one of my favourites, they included a mix of traditional and modern dance.
Not to be outdone the Samoans did great too - Talia really enjoyed that, although I am a little Sasa'd out.
We've missed the live Maori performances but they are a crowd favourite from what I see on TV.
Tomorrow night Talia will participate in the festival, she will perform with the Siva Maia dance group at the Veterans Stadium so we are all very excited about that.