1st Tahitian Cultural Center in the USA

'ia ora na, kura ora, ena koutou, kaoha nui & aronga! My name is Vairea Tupana Samn, a recent immigrant from Tahiti, French Polynesia. For the last 2 years I have been working with many Tahitian dance groups in the United States; helping to translate texts, write songs, conduct costume workshops & give cultural advice for their group presentations to flourish. Now that I have two young sons of my own, I want to open to a space in which I can pass on my Tahitian culture to them in early childhood. I would love to open this space to the public as well, so I can share the culture with all of whom are interested & passionate. I will be opening the very 1st Tahitian Cultural Center (Tanerai i NI'a) in the United States. At the center, students can learn our traditional crafts, history, language, costume making and/or join our all boys dance group. Participants can enroll as year-around students however, Tahitian dance students who already belong to existing groups may also come to learn anything & everything Ma'ohi (Polynesian). Please consider making a donation to help my dream come true, the funds collected will help to make sure the grand opening happens in February 2020 and all start up costs taken care of. I will also be using the funds to support the mamas and grandmamas in my hometown of Faa'a and my mother's island Rurutu, buying out all of their traditional pae'ore (lauhala/woven) items to be sold here in our storefront. Our GoGetFunding campaign helps my family & I to lift these plans off the ground and make them a reality. Your contribution not only helps the U.S. Tahitian dance community to thrive but also gives other Tahitian-American families a place to bring their children to learn their culture outside of their island home. We sincerely appreciate the consideration and tauturu, te aroha 'ia rahi e mauruuru roa.