Photos by Mary Lyn Fonua

 

 

A colourful presentation of traditional dance, for the Heilala Cultural Evening featuring the 2008 Miss Heilala Tau'olunga Junior and Mr Heilala Tulafale competitions at the Heilala Village attracted a large crowd of spectators into central Nuku'alofa last night, July 23

Felicia Cristiana Omani an 11-year old Tongan from Australia won the Miss Heilala Tau'olunga Jr 2008 title. The competition attracted 13 young performers between the ages of 5-12 years old. Felecia's title comes with a cash prize of $1,000 pa'anga and two return tickets to Auckland-Tonga on Pacific Blue Airline.

Six young dancers performed in the Mr Heilala Tulafale competition, which was was won by Faleata Fanguna (16) of Matahau. He won a cash prize of $200 pa'anga.

The night, which attracted a large crowd, included three other cultural dance competitions: the men's Mako dance, a female Ta'olung Lahi group dance, and a Female and Male Group Dance.

 

 

 

 

 

The three categories were all won by the Lave'anga 'o Tonga dancing troupe from Lavengatonga, Tongatapu. And at the end of the night the troupe won a total cash prize of $2,100 pa'anga as each of the three competitions had a $700 pa'anga first place prize.

The annual competition is held during the Heilala Festivities and this year's judges were Mele Lua Mafi and the matapules Malukava and Mo'unga.