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TE AO MANA INC
New York, NY · EIN 854179100 · Form 990EZ · FY2025 · NTEE A20 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Micro (<$100K) · teaomana.org
revenue
$79K
expenses
$76K
net assets
$6K
employees
—
mission · from form 990

TE AO MANA expands the presence of Polynesian culture worldwide through the creation of new, Pacific Island culture based, dance work, specialized classes and workshops, performances, and cultural events. The organization creates space for programming, community building, and exhibiting a strong Pacific Island presence in NYC. As representation for this underserved community is severely lacking, the efforts of Te Ao Mana seeks to bring change to address those needs.

profile · synthesized from sources

Te Ao Mana is a New York City-based Polynesian cultural arts collective founded in 2016 to strengthen Pacific Islander community presence through dance, song, and cultural practice. The organization serves the local Pacific Islander diaspora by offering hula and 'Ori Tahiti classes, workshops, and community gatherings rooted in the traditions of Hawaiʻi, Tahiti, Samoa, and the wider Pacific. It aims to preserve and expand Polynesian cultural representation in NYC.

named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

Community Gatherings
Events that bring together Pacific Islanders and allies for shared practice, celebration, and connection in NYC
Cultural Workshops
Hands-on learning experiences in Pacific Island traditions, including music, dance, and cultural practices
Hula and Ori Tahiti Classes
Regular dance instruction in Hawaiian hula and Tahitian 'Ori Tahiti for community members of all levels
activities · 4 groups

What they do

  • Indigenous and Diaspora Cultural Preservation 2 activities
    • Hosts traditional Tahitian ceremonies and seasonal celebrations
      Conducts traditional events such as the Tautira Matari'i i Ni'a Ceremony, Va'a Ora Tahiti Unu Ceremony, and Papeno'o Matari'i i Ni'a Ceremony to honor Tahitian cultural heritage, seasonal cycles, and community wellness through dance, canoe practices, and ancestral rituals.
    • Supports Pacific Island cultural presence through community programming
      Sustains Pacific Island cultural representation in New York City through ongoing community programming, collaborative work with Native and Indigenous communities, and partnerships with artists locally and internationally to strengthen cultural identity and visibility.
  • Traditional & Cultural Performing Arts 1 activity
    • Creates and performs new Polynesian dance works
      Develops and presents original dance performances rooted in Pacific Island cultural traditions, including Hawaiian hula, Tahitian ori, and Samoan siva, to expand Polynesian cultural presence both locally in New York City and globally.
  • Cultural Exchange and Community Integration Events 1 activity
    • Facilitates cultural exchange and community dialogue
      Organizes cross-cultural initiatives such as the Te Fare Upa Rau Exchange and international workshops in Tahiti and the Marquesas Islands, fostering knowledge sharing between Pacific Island communities and allies. Also hosts community dialogues with Pacific Islander filmmakers and cultural bearers.
  • Uncategorized 2 activities
    • Offers Polynesian dance classes and cultural workshops
      Provides Hula, Ori Tahiti (Tahitian dance), and Siva Samoa (Samoan dance) classes that teach traditional movements, language, cultural narratives, and performance techniques to Pacific Islanders and cultural allies in New York City. Classes emphasize ancestral teachings, technical development, and community participation.
    • Organizes the Tatou Festival and related cultural events
      Produces the Tatou Festival—formerly Heiva Pasifika NYC—as New York City's first and foremost Pacific Islander cultural festival, featuring performances, master classes, Ori Tahiti competitions, film screenings, a Pacific Island marketplace, and cultural workshops. The festival creates citywide space for Pacific Island community gathering and celebration.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$79K
Contributions & grants$79K99%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$76K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
balance sheet
Total assets$6K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$6K
5 years on record · 2021–2025 · YoY revenue +64.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025

Who runs it

board members · 4
  • Anthony Aiu — Founder/Creative Director/President
  • Garrett Soong — Board Member, Treasurer
  • Kaina Quenga — Founder/Director
  • Lehuanani DeFranco — Board Member, Secretary
relationships · 22

Who they work with

  • American Indian Community House Partner — Collaborating organization in the Tatou Festival.
  • Dance/NYC Partner — Partner organization in the Tatou Festival.
  • Edith Kanaka’ole Foundation Partner — Partner in the Tatou Festival, supporting Native Hawaiian cultural programming.
  • FIFO Tahiti Partner — Heretu Tetahiotupa participated in a documentary that won the top prize at the International Oceanian Documentary Film Festival (FIFO Tahiti).
  • FestPac Hawaiʻi Partner — Heretu Tetahiotupa was selected as a cultural representative and delegate at FestPac Hawaiʻi.
  • Festival Eo Himene Partner — Heretu Tetahiotupa is an organizing member of the contemporary music festival showcasing Marquesan artists.
  • Hitireva Tahiti Partner — Kehaulani Chanquy, Directrice of Hitireva Tahiti, is a judge on the 2026 competition jury.
  • Ia Ora Te Hura Partner — Poerani Germain, Directrice of Ia Ora Te Hura, is a judge on the 2026 competition jury.
  • Indigenous Peoples Day NYC (IPD NYC) Partner — Collaborates on the Indigenous Peoples’ Day Celebration, including joint programming and events on Randall’s Island.
  • Judson Memorial Church Partner — Community partner in the Tatou Festival.
  • Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Partner — Collaborated as a community partner in support of the Tatou Festival.
  • Manahau by Aruho'ia Partner — Aruho’ia Biret, Directrice of Manahau by Aruho'ia, is a judge on the 2026 competition jury.
  • Native Arts + Cultures Fund Funder — Supported the Tatou Festival through grant funding.
  • Native and Indigenous communities Partner — Collaborates with Native and Indigenous communities in cultural programming and mutual learning
  • Pacific Island artists Partner — Collaborates with artists from the Pacific Island community in New York City and abroad.
  • Redhawk Native American Council Partner — Community partner in the Tatou Festival.
  • Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Funder — Provided grant funding through the President’s Grant Fund of the Princeton Area Community Foundation for the Tatou Festival.
  • SMALL ISLAND BIG SONG Partner — Aremiti Chansin became part of the SMALL ISLAND BIG SONG team in 2024.
  • Tatou Festival Partner — Provides performance opportunities for students through collaboration with the annual Tatou Festival.
  • Te Ao Mana Partner — Organizing entity that created and runs the Tatou Festival.
  • The Metropolitan Museum of Art Partner — Partnered in support of the Tatou Festival.
  • UTOPIA NYC Partner — Community partner in the Tatou Festival.
strategies · 4

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Ancestral Innovation for Cultural Continuity
    methodology: ancestral_innovation
    By blending ancestral Polynesian knowledge with contemporary artistic forms, we sustain cultural relevance in urban contexts because innovation rooted in tradition enables adaptation without loss of identity.
  • Art as Cultural Infrastructure
    methodology: art-as-cultural-infrastructure
    By embedding artistic practice in community organizing and civic engagement, we generate ecological and cultural change because art functions as a connective system that reshapes space, memory, and belonging.
  • Cultural Amplification and Representation
    methodology: cultural_representation
    By creating performance and educational platforms for Pacific Island voices, we counter systemic underrepresentation because visibility and narrative sovereignty strengthen collective dignity and public understanding of Polynesian identity.
  • Cultural Community Building Through Embodied Practice
    methodology: cultural_community_building
    By using dance, song, and ceremony rooted in Polynesian traditions, we strengthen community bonds and collective identity because shared cultural practice fosters belonging, intergenerational connection, and spiritual grounding.