MALIA is of Tahitian/French & Hawaiian/Chinese descent.  She is the 2nd oldest to Alex and Tanya Tekurio - founders of the troupe Hitia O Te Ra Productions.  Her father was born and raised in Papeete, Tahiti and her mother is from the beautiful island of O’ahu, Hawai’i.  Malia was raised in a home filled with dancing, music, drumming, and love.  She connects her passion for cultural appreciation and performing arts to her parents, her Aunty Erena Mapuhi Pito, and great-grandparents Taumata and Vahineri’I Mapuhi. 

 

Malia has competed in numerous Tahitian dance competitions as a soloist and with her family.  She has taught workshops throughout the United States and has participated in cultural workshops in Tahiti, Hawaii, and California.  Her most treasured gift is winning the 3x perpetual Overall Senior Group award at Heiva I Reno, under the direction of her late father, Alex Tekurio, and with her brother & sisters.

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In 2016, she moved from Southern California to Southern Utah and in January of 2017, she started teaching at the St George Recreation Center. In June 2020 Te Fano O Te Ra Inc was created. 

 

In honor of her parents, Malia, along with her husband Tafolo Tafua, established a non-profit organization called, Te Fano O Te Ra (The Voyage of the Sun) - a name gifted to her by her father before he passed.  Malia's goal is to engage youth in life-long learning through creative expression, forge meaningful community partnerships, and push the boundaries of drumming and dance. Her passion is dance.  To create it.  To celebrate it. To share it.

 

Throughout her career as a teacher and cultural advocate, Malia continues to encourage her students to apply the words she learned from her father; ‘Stay humble, work hard, be teachable, and ALWAYS RESPECT your elders.’