Port Moresby's most popular Hiri Moale Festival - Will it return in 2017 and onwards?

THE Hiri Moale festival is set to attract another crowd in Port Moresby city with residents and visitors from all over. It is set to be staged on Friday September 20 and Saturday October 1, this year at Down Town, Ela Beach- the home of the Hiri Moale Festival.

Chairman of Motu Kiota Assembly Udia Opao on behalf of the Assembly and the Hiri Moale Festival Oraganizing committee apologised for having deferred the launching dates as some of the arrangements were out of their control.

Opao says the last time the festival was held was in 2014 and last year due to the 2015 Pacific Games, the Motu Koita Assembly and NCDC decided to cancel the festival.

He thanked major sponsors NCDC with their sponsorship towards the festival of K500,000 and Exon Mobile with K27,400 as well as Lae Biscuit for their support in cash and kind.

Minister for Sport and Events, Justin Tketchenko who was also present to add colour the event told those present to stand up and be proud of their customs and tradition as they have always been the landowners of NCDC.

“The Motu Koita people have my full support and with the full support of the NCDC, we are adamant to stage this year’s Hiri Moale Festival,” Tkatchenko said.

Various events will be held from canoe racing, to traditional dances and singsings, peroveta choir, string band as well as the highlight of the show- the crowning of the Miss Hiri Hanenamo.

This time, the 2014 Miss Hiri Hanenamo- Miss Boio Miria from Boera Village and Runner up- Miss Mea Lakani from Hanubada will be handing over the title to the next contestant for 2015 Miss Hiri Hanenamo.

Young beauties, between the ages of 18 and 25 or known as Hane U’ulato, from all Motu and Koita villages, from Gabagaba to Manumanu will be vying for the title.

Who will be the next Hiri Hanenamo (Hiri Queen)? There’s only one way to find out?

For staging of the event in 2017 and onwards is a question remained unanswered at this time.
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Some of the photos from the Hiri Queen Quest

Happy viewing!