October 16-18, 2026

TATOU FESTIVAL

Celebrate with us

Tatou (tah-tow) Festival grows and serves the Moana Nui (Pacific Island) community in NYC and internationally by creating space where Pacific Islanders gather to celebrate each others’ artistry and ancestry while building a harmonious, supportive community. We cultivate safe space for the expansion of Pacific Island voices, foster artistic innovation, ally and engage with New York City’s diverse cultural and artistic community. Our leadership provides increases cultural program offering, and levels up performances for a more transportive experience each year.

This year’s event includes captivating performances, a selection of cultural workshops and master classes, an Ori Tahiti (Tahitian Dance) competition, a fashion exhibition, Moana Nui film screenings, and a Pacific Island market, featuring unique artisans.

Here Mai, join us for this highly anticipated event, New York City’s premiere Moana Nui (Pacific Island) Festival.

Making history together!

Engaging Performances

Highlighting Moanan traditions and creating space for contemporary reflections and creations.
Ori Tahiti Competition

Dancers and groups from around the globe, showcase their skills and talents competing for top placement and coveted prizes.
Skilled Artisans

We are thrilled to have some of the worlds widely known tattoo artists, carvers, and artisans with us this year.
Pacific Island Market

In New York City, this is the place to find authentic Polynesian keepsakes, gifts, and rare works by our amazing artists and artisans.
Master Classes

For more in depth training, attendees hone their technique, learn complex choreography, enhance their expressiveness, and connection to the cultural dances.
Moana Nui Workshops

Gain first hand experience from experts in our community who have fine tuned their craft. Siva Samoa, Taualunga, Vivo, Weaving, Ukulele, Drumming…
Film Screenings

Dive into the world of Ta’ata Moana Nui (Pacific Islanders) through up close cinematic creation sharing va with creators and filmmakers.
Protocols & Ceremony

Moanan ceremonies are very rare in NYC. Attendees will gain insight into deeper ancestral practices at the root of our heritage.

New York City’s first

Pacific Island Festival

Tatou Festival, formerly Heiva Pasifika NYC, created by Te Ao Mana, is NYC’s first and foremost Ta’ata Moana Nui (Pacific Islander) festival and Ori Tahiti competition. Over 40,000 Pacific Islanders live in New York, yet investment in this community is overlooked. Some of the values that underlie Polynesian cultures, mana, family, community, and reverence for and a connection to nature, a commitment to protecting our natural resources, can be celebrated by everyone.

The festival will connect New York City and surrounding areas to Moana Nui artisans and crafters, drummers, musicians, dancers, orators, performance troupes, cultural specialists, creators and professionals. Polynesians are essentially an untapped wellspring of living knowledge. It is our desire to further enrich the city’s cultural landscape with our unique event. People of all ages are welcome. The focus is on creating an immersive experience and allowing participants to learn about a culture typically not represented on a large scale in NYC.

Surfacing the values and spiritual foundation of Polynesian Culture will enrich the fabric of New York City. Participants will walk away with a deeper sense of self and their connection to nature, their surroundings, and the community in which they live. They will gain a vivid working knowledge of the featured cultures. A stronger sense of community will be formed as festival attendees engage in the planned activities. Members of the Polynesian community will gain a larger sense of identity and visibility in New York City and be afforded opportunities to expand their creativity.

Creating this epic community event requires a lot of work, energy, organizational skill, flexibility, patience, people, good communication, and love. We are so thankful for our committee, their dedication, and determination. Our team logs countless volunteer hours programming a fantastic, memorable event. TATOU FESTIVAL is anxiously anticipated each year and we are thrilled to see it grow continually. We work tirelessly to bring together the best of Moana Nui here in New York City.