Kapa haka is more than a performance.
It’s something that carries Janie Ikinofo back in time to the first Hauraki Cultural Kapa Haka Festival.
The kuia of Kerepēhi Marae told The Profile when she watched kapa haka groups perform, she thought of the people who helped bring the festival to life.
“My mind goes back to the past, to think [about] how we first started. You know, all those people who have passed on, that helped to set all this up.
“My thoughts go back to them and every marae.”
It’s something Kuia Janie was ready to experience again as the people of Kerepēhi Marae prepared to host the 52nd Hauraki Cultural Kapa Haka Festival on November 21 to 22.
Kerepēhi Marae kaumātua and festival committee chair Hemi Kākā said the annual festival was hosted by a different Hauraki marae each year.
While there wasn’t a theme for the festival as a whole, the kaumātua said as hosts, Kerepēhi marae would follow the kaupapa (principles or values) of manaakitanga.
“That means we’ve got to look after everyone that comes in.”
It’s a celebration of cultural heritage that aims to showcase performances from across the generations, which includes tamariki (children) from kohanga reo, rangatahi (teenagers), pakeke (adults) and esteemed kuia and kaumātua (elders).
Something people would be able to witness at the pōwhiri (welcoming ceremony) on the first day is the wero (challenge) performance by three Kerepēhi School boys, they said.
The two-day festival will also include food stalls and displays.
“The opportunity goes to the marae and then to the schools and the kohanga. They are the first people to come in for stalls. That’s to give our school children a chance also to fundraise. You know, make sure that they have the first opportunity. Then you sort of open it up [to others]”.
Kuia Janie said she usually sets up a photo display of past festivals for people to view.
The reason the festival was started in the first place was to bring all the marae in Hauraki together, she said.
“It first started at Pai O Hauraki [marae], that was years ago. But that was the idea – to bring the culture and bring all the marae together. And it was something for our children to look forward to.
“[It] doesn’t matter what culture you were, you all joined in to do kapa haka.”
One thing Hemi said he noticed in people when they performed kapa haka was “identity”, while Kuia Janie said the thing she witnessed in tamariki was that “the best comes out of them”.
“I feel excited for the children, you know, because they are so excited.
“When I see a certain marae come up to perform, my mind goes back to their kuia and their kaumātua,” Kuia Janie said. “But now you’ve got all the young ones coming through to help with the festival, which is lovely.
“It’s those types of things you think about. I can’t help but do it.”
DETAILS: Hauraki Cultural Kapa Haka Festival on November 21 to 22 at Kerepēhi Marae, 21 McGowan Ave, Kerepēhi. Entry is a gold coin donation.
By DAVIDDA HIKATANGATA
