About

Our story begins in the South Pacific, where we are introduced to Henry Eli George – an architect of change who hails from a lineage of culture keepers. Born in Rarotonga, the Cook Islands and raised in Auckland, New Zealand, this young boy, would later become the Director & Co-founder of the largest Polynesian dance group in Las Vegas. Henry’s story ventures into a journey of finding faith, finding favor and perpetuating culture.

His rebellious teenage years led him to being sent away by his parents, to Kailua-Kona, Hawaii as a part of a youth program known as (DTS) Discipleship Training School. This curriculum was facilitated by (YWAM) Youth With A Mission – an interdenominational, Christian organization,  which formed training centers at the Pacific Asian Christian University – known today as University of the Nations. Seemingly a great “punishment” for his reckless behavior, Henry requested to enroll in Photography & Film studies, but was placed in Arts & Entertainment where he was later recruited by Island Breeze Productions/Ministries.

There, the journey of Tevakanui began. Considering to establish a dance group in 2002, Henry asked his father to name the group. He was given Te Vaka Nui which roughly translates to “the grand canoe” – to which Henry combined the words making Tevakanui to signify the unity required in a journey to be made by such a grand canoe.

Within a month, the group grew to 50 members and they found themselves performing at various festivals and performances over the next 12 months. A year later, Henry & Yvette moved to Las Vegas, NV where Tevakanui was reestablished, but this time, Henry’s vision expanded to