Hiri Hanenamo crowning today

The 2017 Hiri Hanenamo Queen will be crowned today.

This quest is one highlight of the annual Hiri Moale Festival held by the Motu and Koitabu people in Port Moresby.

More importantly, it focuses on the female ancestors who played a special role in the history, as Nou Pipi, 2017 HMF coordinator, explains.

Pipi says the Hanenamos were the newly-married women or those just about to get married to a young man on board the Lagatoi (traditional Motuan voyage canoe).

“They kept their fingers crossed the entire process,” he says.

The Hanenamos had to undergo many rituals which included them fasting and staying away from their own family.  

“So although they were not on the lagatoi itself, they performed the rituals back home. That’s how we appreciate them here.

“The festival is not just about the seafarers but the brave young women. It’s about the entire community,” he said.  

The quest sees a young Motu woman representing her Motuan heritage yearly to participate.

This year’s quest has 18 contestants who were announced on Tuesday.

The first judging also took place then. Second judging took place yesterday at the festival venue at Paga Hill Ringroad, Port Moresby.

This afternoon will be the crowning of the 2017 Miss Hanenamo, the first runner up and the 2017 Miss Hetura (friendship).

Celebrations continue today.

Related articles:

The Lagatoi returns

Hiri Moale is here!

Author: 
Gloria Bauai