We're incredibly excited to offer workshops in Tahitian Drumming, Ori Tahiti (dance), and Siva Afi (fire knife)! Private sessions are also available in very limited quantites.
This activity is supported by the Michigan Arts and Culture Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Lean More about Michigan Arts and Culture Council
The City of Novi has been instrumental in providing the facilities for this year's Great Lakes Polynesia Spring Workshops while helping us pass on cost savings to you
Lean More about the City of Novi
$60
Handmade katalox to'ere stick. Approximately 16-17" length.
$20-Adult, $15-Kids
Kelly green pareo stamped with light color logo. Adult Size 72" x 22.5", Kids Size 45" x 18"
Pre-order materials will be available for sale until May 5, 2023. These items are all handmade, so sales will be halted in advance to allow time for the items to be produced.
Pre-orderThe Polynesian Arts Advocacy Council of Michigan (PAACOM) has partnered with 
for our payment processing. Zeffy is an organization that helps non-profits process payments by covering credit card processing fees. During checkout, Zeffy will present the option to add a donation to them with your order.
We've partnered with the Four Points by Sheraton Detroit Novi to proivde discounted hotel rates for May 19-21,2023.
Rates start at $119 per night. Space is limited, so get your room today!
Book NowFour Points by Sheraton Detroit Novi
27000 South Karevich DriveLakeshore Park
601 S. Lake DriveDuration: 2 Hours
Materials Needed:
Duration: 90 Minutes
Materials Needed:
Duration: 90 Minutes
Materials Needed:
Duration: 90 Minutes
Materials Needed:
Duration: 90 Minutes
Materials Needed:
Duration: 60 Minutes
Materials Needed:
Practice fireknife sticks can be made on your own or purchased. For a DIY tutorial, see this video. If you prefer to purchase a practice stick, you can do so from either Major's Mana Made (preferred) or The Siva Afi Company.
*Regular drumstick is ok, toere stick is preferred.
**Limited number of practice toere drums available to share.
***Do you aspire to enter competition as an ʻOri Tahiti solosist in the future? Or do you just want to enhance your skills as a dancer? Book your private session with Jacinta, an award-winning soloist and teacher who can give you valuable feedback and advice to amplify your performance.
Nico San Nicolas is the Tane instructor (male Tahitian dance), lead Tahitian drummer, and Siva Afi (fireknife) performer for Hiti Mahana Polynesia, a premier Polynesian Dance group located in Cocoa Beach, Florida.
He is of Chamorro descent (Guam) and was surrounded by music from early childhood, playing guitar and drums for his father’s band. It was through Polynesian arts where he quickly taught himself how to play the various polynesian instruments as his sister Jacinta needed a musician for her group Hiti Mahana in 2010.
Over the years, Nico has traveled across the world in pursuit of refining his skills, all the while absorbing knowledge from various resources. He has gone to California, Florida, Hawaii and Tahiti to workshop and study under various musicians such as: Tiana Liufau, Mitch Asuncion, Keali’i Bush, and Carlos Tuia. Nico has formally taught Tahitian Drumming classes in Denver, Colorado for Halau Kalama prior to moving to Florida where he leads the musicians for Hiti Mahana in Cocoa Beach, Florida.
Jacinta Maʻae is the Raʻatira and Artistic Director of Hiti Mahana, with two locations under her direction based in Cocoa Beach, FL and San Antonio, TX.
Originally from the South Pacific island of Guam, Jacinta started dancing as soon as she could walk. She grew up dancing with halau in California, Guam, and Texas. She started dancing professionally in 2007, and created Hiti Mahana with her family in 2010. Since then, she has learned and trained from many sources, such as Tiana and Riki Liufau of Nonosina, Moena Maotui, Tehani Robinson, and Tahia Cambet, as well as many other well respected ʻorometua.
Jacinta is a current member of Pupu Here Solo Competition Team under the direction of Kanani Asuega. She is also a current student of Moenau Rivera of Poly-Lingual Reo Tahiti, an online Polynesian language program she became a part of during the pandemic. She was even named one of the top Reo Tahiti students of 2020.
Jacinta has led her pupu ʻori in group competitions throughout Florida and the mainland. She has trained many of her students to compete in solo competitions, where many of them have placed. More recently, Jacinta led her group to Hura Tapairu Manahini and entered several soloists in the ʻOri Tahiti Nui competition in Tahiti in 2022. She believes in the importance of visiting the fenua, learning from the source, and to always remain a student of this beautiful art form
