Those in the large crowd which started arriving as early as 3am from all over the Gazelle Peninsula were made to wait for hours as the Kinavai, which traditionally ends on the beach before sun rise, came ashore about 8am.
The tubuans then headed for the festival grounds at Ralum in Kokopo, for the next part of the ceremony which included the kanovo and ngunungut and the varlapang which involves the giving of food and tabu (shell money) to the tubuans. The tubuans will entertain the festival goers throughout the next few days with the gunugu or tubuan dances.
