Over two nights, Wednesday and Thursday, thousands gathered at Te Are Karioi Nui to witness the energy, joy and pride as hundreds of students lit up the stage in the exhilarating biennial Rarotonga Schools Culture Festival.

Eleven schools hit the stage performing their best for the proud parents and families in the audience.

As usual, the little preschool darlings stole the show with their uniqueness and display of absolute joy performing Cook Islands culture.

Some danced to their own actions, some sang impressively well having memorised the words of their songs, some searched for their parents in the audience, and some waved delightfully to the cheering crowd.

Although there were a few tears, the Schools Culture Festival was once again a roaring success, giving students the opportunity to experience, learn and showcase their culture performing the kapa rima (action song), ura pau (drum dance), ute (celebratory song) and pe’e (chant).

“They all deserve to be on stage enjoying themselves, this is their turn to be a star, it’s their festival,” shares a proud parent.

Maara T Scheel, the chairlady of the Rarotonga Schools Culture Festival committee, is also the head of culture and Māori at Apii Nikao.

Scheel says teaching children ancestral culture is important and will assist them in learning more and give them the tools to pass on their history.

Apii Te Uki Oi delivered their show in three parts – pe’e, ura pau, and kapa rima, inspired by the theme “Tupu’anga ruperupe toou e taku Ipukarea, e tango ketaketa ia noku e no te uki apopo”.

Their kapa rima “This is Us Apii Te Uki” was composed by Wayken Punga, and the pe’e was written by Teariki “Johnny Blue” Purua.

For the ura pau, student leader Tangitoru Heather composed the beats supported by Avaiki Williams and the drumming team.

Apii Takitumu’s Hinamoana Olah delivered their script eloquently in Māori on stage, encouraging people to embrace and learn Maori culture and language.

“Tuanga 1 (Temurimotia – Junior Syndicate) Apii Potiki, Pupu Tai e te Rua ka akaariari atu ratou i ta ratou ute. E ute teia kua akamouia ki runga i te akaepaepa anga tatou i te 60 mataiti o to tatou Ipukarea.

“Tuanga 2 (Ngati Tangiia – Middle Syndicate Pupu 3 e te Pupu 4). Ko ta matou tuanga, koia oki ko te pee e te tila. E pee teia kua akamouia ki runga I te tumu tapura maata ‘Tupu’anga ruperupe toou e taku Ipukarea, e tango ketaketa ia noku e no te uki apopo’. Kua apii katoa ia matou i te au pee tuketuke e to ratou tangianga e kua inangaro matou i te oki i te akamaara i to matou au Ui Tupuna e 60 mataiti i topa ake nei.

“Tuanga 3 (Rangiatea – Senior Syndicate Pupu 4, 5 e te 6). Ko ta matou tuanga ko te kaparima e te ura pau. Kua akamou ia ta matou kaparima e te ura pau ki runga i te manako akaaraara ia tatou katoatoa i teia ra. E oki e akamanako i te mato i pao ia mai ei koe. Taau korero i vai ana te reira e 60 mataiti i topa ake nei, te vai nei e ka vai uatu rai no te uki apopo. Eaa tatou e varenga ua i te akamea papaa ia tatou te kitena iatu nei oki e kare rai e mako ana ta tatou araara e te tata papaa. Tuatua ia to tatou reo. Tata ia. E reo manea e te Mataora to tatou reo Kuki Airani.”

In celebration of Nukutere College’s 50^th anniversary, the school presented a special cultural performance, reflecting the school’s history, growth and unity.

Their pe’e invites their former students to reunite with their roots, and to take a walk down memory lane, ending with the ura pa’u and heartfelt farewell to their outgoing principal Delaney Yaqona.

Apii Nikao’s Maori script describes their performances – “te tuanga mua, ko te akamaroiroianga te reira kia tatou te Iti Tangata Kuki Airani, kia akono meitaki tatou i to tatou ipukarea no te uki apopo”.

“Ko te rua o te tuanga na te Pupu 1, 2 e te 3 te reira e akatutu. Ko ta ratou manako maata koia oki, ko te manea o to tatou Ipukarea - e parauanga teia na te anau tamariki o Apii Nikao.

“Ko te toru o te tuanga na te Pupu 4, 5 e te pupu 6 te reira e akatutu. Kua akamouia ta ratou tuanga ki runga i to tatou Enua Ipukarea - te enua mei po mai. Kua riro to tatou ipukarea e metua no matou. Te Kuki Airani, Kia vai ruperupe.

Ko te tuanga openga na te pupu 7 e te pupu 8 te reira e akaari mai. Kua akamouia teia tuanga ki runga i te utuutuanga o to tatou peu Maori. Kua riro teia tuatau, e tuatau no te angai i te kai korero kite uki no apopo.”