People
STAFF
Rebecca Ka’awela Manandic
kikiraina@hotmail.com
Event Coordinator
Rebecca Ka’awela Manandic was born and raised on the island of Oahu. After having moved to the Merced area in 1974, she began a small Polynesian dance troupe, Ke Anuenue (Hawaiian: “The Rainbow), which was the first such group in the Central Valley.
Chrys “Kreeky” Ramirez
kreeky196@gmail.com
Sr Event Coordinator/ Vendor Coordinator
Alaka’i – assistant to Aunty Becky
I have been involved with Aunty Becky and the Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete since its inception in 1979. At the age of 9, I was one of its earliest competitors. With over 35 years of dance experience, I have learned so much valuable knowledge of the Polynesian culture. As a native Hawaiian, I have embraced not only my heritage but opened my heart to all of the Pacific islands and what they offer. So far, it has been an amazing journey. I am so happy to be a part of this “open arms” Polynesian Community.
Eric Cesar Morales, Ph.D.
eric.cesar.morales@gmail.com
Webmaster
Eric "Ka'ahele" Morales is an activist, academic, and interdisciplinary artist. He works as the Resourcing Coordinator for Philly Thrive, a multiracial, cross-class, grassroots environmental and climate justice organization. He received his MA and Ph.D. from the Department of Folklore and Ethnomusicology Cultural Studies from Indiana University, with his master’s thesis focusing on the representation of Latinos in the media and his doctoral dissertation exploring issues of cultural appropriation and globalization in Tahitian dance. His published academic works have been featured in the Oxford Handbook of American Folklore, Race and Pedagogy Journal: Teaching and Learning for Justice, and the Journal of American Folklore. He has worked at several folk arts organizations, including Alliance for California Traditional Arts, CityLore, and the Philadelphia Folklore Project. He has served as a grant panelist for such organizations as the National Endowment for the Arts, the Indiana Arts Commission, the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, and many more.
Patty Mililani Callaghan
gumby101n@gmail.com
Assistant Event Coordinator
Running the first aid booth for the past 11 years is but one of the many ways in which Aunty Patty contributes to the Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete. A talented musician, she has been one of our house drummers for six years, and she is one of our fete vendors, owning and operating Haole Style Okole Resters. In addition, she makes a "mean" pot of chicken long rice soup.
Joanna Nohealani Blakeman
joanna_blakeman@aim.com
Maeva Pageant Coordinator/ Social Media Specialist
Joanna has been a Maeva Merced Pageant coordinator since 2007. Although much of her work is done behind the scenes, she is the one you will see managing contestants on stage. She has over twenty years of experience in Polynesian dance and plays a key role in updating our social media sites, creating many of our brochures, tickets and fliers for events and fundraisers.