Association Polynésie Canada Polynesia Association

18/10/2025

🌺The story of Terese Berabera 🌺

Terese Berabera was a Hawaiian woman born at Fort Langley, the daughter of Ranaka Apon, one of the Hawaiian workers who came to British Columbia during the fur trade era. In 1871, she married Owen Wormley Browne, an African-American pioneer.

Together, Terese and Owen settled along the Stave River, where she managed their homestead, raised their children, and helped build a thriving farm. After Owen’s passing in 1886, Terese continued to lead the household with strength and determination, ensuring her family’s future and leaving a lasting mark on the community.

Her story reminds us of the vital contributions of Hawaiian women in early British Columbia.

This , let's remember the countless women whose strength and resilience built our history.

📸Image: Hawaiian dancers at the 2025 annual Hawaiian/Polynesian Festival, .

10/08/2025

Tahia Cambet Ori Tahiti ateliers/ workshops
Toronto + Montréal
🤩

24/07/2025

A historic moment for hula in Canada
Un moment historique pour le hula au Canada

Hālau Hula O Walea

15/07/2025

À Toronto. In Toronto.
[email protected]

15/07/2025

À Toronto. In Toronto.
[email protected]

09/07/2025

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566180827801

Producer

07/07/2025

Kupe, le premier explorateur polynésien qui peupla Aotearoa (Nouvelle Zélande)
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1289659283161501&set=a.502470705213700&type=3

The Story of Kupe – The First Explorer

One foundational story is that of Kupe, a great Polynesian navigator. According to tradition, Kupe was the first to discover Aotearoa. He set sail from Hawaiki (the ancestral homeland believed to be in central Polynesia) around 800–1000 years ago. Guided by the stars, ocean currents, birds, and clouds, Kupe’s voyage led him to the shores of the land we now call New Zealand.

Kupe is said to have named many places during his exploration, including Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa (the Pacific Ocean) and Aotearoa, which is often translated as “Land of the Long White Cloud,” referencing the cloud formations he and his crew saw as they approached the islands.

The Great Fleet Migration

Generations after Kupe, several waka (canoes) followed, including Tainui, Te Arawa, Mataatua, Tokomaru, Kurahaupō, Aotea, and Takitimu. These waka carried entire communities and were led by chiefs and tohunga (priests or experts), each with their own stories and genealogies.

Each iwi (tribe) traces its lineage back to a specific waka and celebrates the arrival and settlement of their ancestors in different parts of Aotearoa. These waka landed at various locations, from the Bay of Plenty to Northland, and became the foundation of Māori society, whakapapa (genealogy), and territorial identity.

Spiritual and Cultural Significance

These stories aren’t just myths, they’re deeply spiritual accounts of exploration, courage, and connection to the land and sea. They are passed down through waiata (songs), haka, carvings, and oral storytelling, and continue to shape Māori identity today.

04/07/2025

Hālau Hula o Walea va participer au presitgieux concours pour enfants Queen Lili'uokalani Hula competiton. La vidéo commence minute 3.08.
Toronto's hālau hula o Walea on Breakfast television this morning talking about their historic upcoming participation to Queen Lili"uokalani Hula competiton. Video starts minute 3.08

26/06/2025

19/06/2025

Merci à tous ceux et celles qui ont participé aux ateliers de danse hawaïenne dimanche passé ! C'était une expérience intense mais remplie d'aloha!
A big mahalo to Kumu Kawika Alfiche for sharing his culture with us! We look forward to having you again!

29/07/2024

Cérémonie d'ouverture des jeux olympiques pour le surf à Tahiti.
Olympic Games opening ceremony for surfing in Tahiti.

Tandis que la cérémonie était en cours à Paris, le long de la Seine, celle de Tahiti s’ouvrait à plus de 15 000 km. « Savourons ces Jeux, le monde entie...