Hundreds celebrate Polynesian culture in Merced

The 37th annual Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete drews hundreds to Merced over the weekend, celebrating Polynesian culture, food and dancing.

Kiki Raina is the longest continuously running Tahitian event outside of the islands in French Polynesia, according to Becky Manandic, whom the dancers know as “Aunty Becky.”

“It’s our way for us to keep in touch with our Polynesian culture,” Manandic said in a recent interview with the Merced Sun-Star.

Manandic is the founder of Kiki Raina, the South Pacific Dance Company and nonprofit Te Mau Ta’ata Anuanua, or People of the Rainbow.

The teams and solo dancers performed to music played by a team of drummers. The toere are long, hollowed-out log drums that typically come in three sizes and are beaten with bamboo. Other performers use the fa’atete and pahu drums, which are played with drumsticks.

The dances are symbolic and each tells a story.

This story was originally published March 20, 2016 at 12:23 PM with the headline "Hundreds celebrate Polynesian culture in Merced."