Meet the Hiri Queen

People MEET THE HIRI QUEEN

BY CARMEL PILOTTI | PHOTOGRAPH: GODFREEMAN KAPTIGAU

The Hiri Hanenamo Quest is more than just a beauty pageant, it’s about cultural heritage. The 2021 Hiri Hanenamo Queen, Raila English, says it’s the greatest honour to represent her people after winning the crown in February.

“It has always been a dream to participate in the Hiri Hanenamo; my mother always dreamed of it too, so I represented both her and my step-mother as well, and their villages of Tubusereia and Pari,” English tells PNG Now.

With her father from a third Motu-Koita village, Hanuabada, English, 21, feels she took home the crown for all three, albeit officially representing Pari, where she grew up.

English says that despite challenges due to her father being ill and her concern for him, she was put at ease to go through with the competition with his encouragement and blessing.

She recalls her experience working alongside the other nine Hiri Hanenamo contestants of this year’s quest, saying, although they were supposed to be rivals, the women formed strong and valuable bonds during their time together.

Taking on this obligation, she has a vision to create a platform for the inspiration and empowerment of women, and promote opportunities to support, connect and grow women in business.

“I am motivated and enthusiastic about this because it enables us to promote our culture on a whole other level.

“The passion, the love for our culture and the traditional heritage of our ancestors is truly amazing, therefore I am putting myself out there for the future generation of women to be courageous and be willing to learn about and promote our culture.”

English has a love for the sea and hopes to work in the maritime industry, while another long-term goal is to own and run her own beach resort.

For the next year, she will represent the Motu-Koitabu people as a young spokesperson and ambassador on the public platform. “It means so much to be the Hiri Hanenamo Queen. It means respect, courage, empowerment, acknowledgement, and an obligation to my people,” she says.

Photos of the Hiri festivities, Page 26

Raila English, crowned the 2021 Hiri Queen in February. The quest was meant to go ahead last year but was delayed because of COVID-19.

Focus HIRI WEEKEND

THOUSANDS COME OUT TO CELEBRATE A TRADITION

BY CARMEL PILOTTI | PHOTOGRAPHS: GODFREEMAN KAPTIGAU

After being postponed late last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hiri Moale Festival finally went ahead on a sunny weekend in Port Moresby in February.

It was attended by thousands of people who watched vanagi (canoe) racing, the arrival of the lagatoi (a double-hull traditional sail boat), and the crowning of the Hiri Queen.

The lagatoi, was sailed in to Port Moresby from the coastal village of Manumanu.

The 35-man crew sailed the traditional vessel smoothly into Ela Beach, escorted by boats and jet skis of the Papua New Guinea Water Police.

Ela Beach (previously known as Era Kone) is the original port-ofcall of the historical Hiri trade expeditions.

In the old days, village women would gather at the water’s edge to receive the travellers at the end of their voyage. They would sing songs of welcome, and also of lament for those who did not return.

This spectacle was replicated at the festival, where the captain and crew were also welcomed by the chairman of the Motu-Koita Assembly, Dadi Toka Junior.

The beach was packed with local families, and some curious foreigners who blended in effortlessly with the festive crowd. Music from the main stage and boom boxes filled the air, making the atmosphere fun and welcoming.

Festivities moved to the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium on the second day of the festival for the Hiri Hanenamo Quest.

Hiri queens from 10 MotuKoitabu villages were judged on their cultural knowledge, a performance portraying the return of the lagatoi, their dance technique, their dance technique, and their traditional tattoos.

Head judge and renowned PNG playwright, Nora Vagi-Brash, tells PNG Now: “The pageant is not about looking for a beautiful girl, it’s about culture and what they remember of our history.”

Taking home the overall title of Hiri Hanenamo 2022 was Raila English, 21, from Pari village. She was greeted by a throng of excited supporters when she came off stage – an indication of the significance of the Hiri Queen to the Motu-Koitabu people.

Witnessing the ceremony, along with thousands of spectators, was the Governor General, Sir Bob Dadae, NCD Governor, Powes Parkop, and Managing Director of major sponsor Steamships, Rupert Bray.

Sponsors of this year’s event included PNG Air with air tickets, Digicel with smartphones and Gemini Jewellers with a gold and two silver lagatoi pendants. Total prize money was K17,500.

Above and right: Women from Manumanu village welcome a lagatoi at Ela Beach. The festival was staged in February, after being delayed in 2021 because of the pandemic.

Above: Hiri queens at the celebrations. Right: The chairman of the Motu-Koita Assembly, Dadi Toka Junior, receives a gift of bananas from lagatoi captain (Baditauna) Guba Ume.