Hello Mustangs, have you heard of or seen the ERHS Polynesian Club? Maybe you’ve seen them perform in dance at some of our Pep Rallies. If not, then let us introduce you to this very unique and immersive community.
The Polynesian Club is a group that gathers people interested in Polynesian culture, and especially dances. Passionate and leading individuals guiding determined dancers, it’s a club for those who know nothing about the culture, and even those who are experts. Everyone is welcome!
Polynesia itself is a subregion of Oceania. Different nations of Polynesia are Hawaii, Samoa, American Samoa, Tokelau, Tahiti, and Tonga.
Polynesian culture itself is known for being passionate with great displays of art and environment, The Hula dances show homage to the gods and illustrate the tales they have journeyed through. The Hula dancers dress in skirts and sometimes in flower crowns. Meanwhile, the males wear green skirts, are shirtless, and barefoot, showing pride in their bodies.
Stephen King is a junior in High School, President of The Polynesian Club, and the male Haka dance instructor. King has been involved with the club since his freshman year. The Haka the male dancers learn is the Tika Tonu Haka which represents achievement and struggle with males as they start becoming men.
“The Tika Tonu Haka is used by a lot for males for coming of age or becoming an adult and it symbolizes the strength and the struggle they had to go through to become the man they are ” King elaborates. “A lot of people use it at weddings, 18th birthdays, and football games,” King adds.
Brooke Specht is a student here in ERHS who has danced since childhood and teaches the Hula dance to female dancers. Specht has a lot of experience dancing and shares how important the dances are to the culture.
“…how important and steeped in history they are,” Specht reiterates. “The beat of our drums are the best of our drums are the beat of our hearts.” Specht personifies the feeling of symbolizing how the dance is within the soul.
Senna Salima and Arelagi Tuivaiti teach the female dancers a very cultural dance “From the island of Samoa,” Salima explains.
“These dances are what our ancestors used to do and what are passed down us new generations, to keep it going of course.” Salima reiterates
The club has dance practices on Wednesdays outside the D building, or the quad at 4:15. The male and female dancers practice separately but both dance at pep rallies, however, you don’t have to dance to be in the club. It’s up to personal choice!
Our personal experiences went great! I Jony, had a great time introducing myself and getting to know the other members. I felt very connected to my peers when learning the Haka. The other dancers were engaging and very motivational. As well as Journey, I also felt very connected as the girls learned various dances. The club’s overall environment is warm and friendly, even though I’m brand new to the culture I’ve already learned so much!
Polynesian culture is known for being fiery and passionate and having beautiful art forms. Taika Watiti a Filmmaker and actor is a Polynesian Jew from New Zealand who has made some of our favorite films and TV shows. Watiti made Our Flag Means Death released in 2022, a show about a band new pirate crew trying to become pirate legends, with Watiti playing the role of Black Beard. A more recent movie released in 2023 Next Goal Wins depicts the real-life comeback story of American Samoa’s national football team.
If any of this sounds interesting to you, come join! Wednesdays and Fridays outside the D building at 4:15!
