PUKANA!

This is a blast from the Past but I thought I should share.  Pukana is performed for many reasons, Pukana can be to show ones Mana and Ihi, sometimes how fierce a warrior can be and also how beautiful or a little flirtatious a woman can be when doing the poi, or in a waiata a ringa. It is the way we Maori express ourselves. For men it is the protruding of the tongue and widening of the eyes and for women we widen our eyes not do the protrusion of the tongue. But why do our eyes, well my Nanny said to me, our eyes the windows to our soul and our and actions speak louder than words, eyes can show many feelings and what your wairua what your Spirit says is truth though your words might betray.

This Photo has some pretty awesome fellas in it, My son for one who has a mean as Pukana, but behind him is his Uncle the Late David Atkinson who is one of the most generous kindest and ngawari men I have ever met! He and his wife and their family, also Richard Polsen and a friend of theirs started the Maori Culture Group called Ngati Hiona, and have been the heart of the Maori Community in Utah for a long time now. My Uncle Rakaipaka has been the Kaumatua for not only Ngati Hiona but for many Maori and Pacific Islanders in the State, and they are known across the country amongst the Polynesian and Performing Arts communities for their efforts and Contributions.  From the right to left we have The Late Uncle Wiremu Pene from Ngati Pourou, who had a mighty voice, boy could he sing. Then our nephew Shaun Clarke who went on to perform and work at one of Hawaii's leading attractions The Polynesian Culture Centre.Uncle Dave and Hayden Bailey,  the Grandson of Uncle Wiremu, Jason Wihongi, who is well versed in Haka and Mau Rakau and from one of the first Maori Family's who migrated to Utah, and is married to a Beautiful Kahungunu maiden, Candy Wihongi nee Nuku, and to the side and front of him are his good looking sons.:)

It is Important for us to teach our Tamariki because they are the future of our Maori communities were ever they may be around the world, We must build them up with what it means to be a strong community, so that when we are gone they will take our places and look after one another, so Parents and Grandparents, it must first be important for us, otherwise it will never be important to them!

What a wonderful Maori Community we had in Utah. It was so unique and the aroha and wairua was definitely one of a kind. Naku te rourou, Nau te rourou, ka ora ai te Iwi! Tihei Mauri Ora!