Aaradhna and Kings would have worked up decent sweats climbing the stage to collect awards at the 2017 Vodafone Pacific music awards at Auckland's Vodafone Events Centre on Thursday night.Aaradhna took home four awards including Best Pacific Music Album and Best Pacific Female Artist while Kings collected Best Pacific Male Artist and Best Pacific Urban Artist.SWIDT were nominated for the Best Pacific Urban award and although they didn't take home a trophy their performance left an impression and when the beat for their radio hit "312" dropped, the party really felt like it was on.Opetaia Foa'I, the Kiwi who worked on Disney's Moana received the Special Recognition Award after 20 years of contributing to Pacific music. He was also honoured for using the first non-English song in the score for the Disney smash. His daughter Olivia Foa'i won Best Pacific Language Song for "Tulou Tagaloa", which also featured on Moana.
"Thanks Dad", she said smiling shyly to collect her award.
The crowd favourite was General Fiyah from Three House's Down, just 11 years old he said he'd spent a lot of time watching his Dad get awards, and "not being arrogant or anything, but it's my turn", he teased.Image: Aleyna Martinez