Hilo experienced a first-hand view into the vast cultures of countries visiting for the International Va’a Federation 2024 World Sprint Championships during Cultural Night.
Over 2,800 paddlers from 27 countries have been racing in Hilo Bay for the 20th IVF World Sprints since last week.
As part of the championship, Cultural Night invites every participating country to present something meaningful about its culture and learn about their fellow competitors.
From the intensity felt through a Maori haka by Aotearoa to the serenity from a traditional song by the North Mariana Islands and Guam, there were plenty of emotions to be felt during the most anticipated night of the competition.
Hawaii opened the performances with an oli led by young people from across the state. Much of the crowd joined in the chant, which felt like a welcome to everyone in the stadium.
Australia displayed aboriginal culture with dances led by a young man covered in white ochre, which is used to depict dreamtime stories and maps. Often, these dances connect those of aboriginal descent to their ancestors.
Two Chilean paddlers conveyed their culture through the national dance, the cueca. The folk dance has been passed down through generations and the movements are inspired by the courtship between a rooster and a hen.
Indigenous members of the USA and Canada’s paddling teams came together for one North American performance with sounds that filled the stadium. Leaders asked non-Indigenous members of USA and Canada’s teams to join them on the floor as one nation.
“It’s not just the events on the water, but it’s the cultural exchange that brings us together for this time. That is what the paddle means for us,” they said. “We want to say thank you to our non-Indigenous brothers and sisters for their respect for the paddle as they revere it in the same way.”
Samoa was next to perform with a traditional Siva Samoa dance, which is often done to tell the story of Samoan life through the movement of the body. Due to the influence of Christian missionaries, Samoans have blended Christian ideas with their traditional practices, including the dance.
Aotearoa, which is translated as “land of the long white cloud,” displayed waiata and haka, which are its traditional songs and dance, respectively. They reflect the spectrum of emotional circumstance, which have been passed down through generations since the arrival of the first Maori.
Paddlers from the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam came together to sing a song that displayed the mixture of culture they share. Traditions are often derived from the indigenous Charmorro people and that of the Roman Catholic religion.
Rapa Nui was next as they danced the Sau Sau, which is a style of Polynesian dance that is often used to tell a story and show the flow of water. During their performance, dancers pulled in participants from other countries to participate and learn some of the soft and flexible movements.
Paddlers from Tahiti displayed ‘ori Tahiti, a vibrant, sensual and exciting embodiment of the spirit of Polynesia. Dances are an integral art form in Tahiti that convey emotions, tell stories and transmit traditions through pulsating rhythms and movements.
Brazil closed the night with a big display of capoeira, which is a symbol of Brazilian culture that blends martial arts, acrobatics and dance choreography. Capoeira is an art that was formed by the cultures of indigenous Brazilians and of Africans once enslaved in the country.
The IVF World Sprints Championships continue today and Friday with the final ceremony set for approximately 5 p.m. Friday.
Those interested can watch races from Hilo Bayfront, or via the livestream, which can be found at worldsprints2024hilo.org/.
Email Kelsey Walling at kwalling@hawaiitribune-herald.com