We spent a day at the Polynesian Cultural Center touring Samoa, Tonga, Aotearoa (New Zealand), Fiji, Tahiti, and Hawaii. We also caught a glimpse of Marquesas (Easter Island). It was actually a pretty cool place. The workers at the PCC all come from the countries they represent. Many are studying at BYU Hawaii on scholarship and working at the PCC helps to pay for those scholarships.
And Will was a champion among men that day. This visit was post-sunburn, and I could hardly walk, so he pushed me around the entire Center in a wheelchair. Even after it rained and the ground turned to mud. It was also the most humid day we experienced in Hawaii. He is a hero!
 |
| Making fire in Samoa |
 |
| Samoans are known as "The Happy People." Doesn't he look happy?! |
 |
| This guy just shimmied up and down a coconut tree. No big deal. |
 |
| The Haka in Aotearoa. See that guy on the left? The skinniest polynesian I have ever seen. |
 |
| The stick game in Aotearoa |
 |
| Spinning Poi |
 |
| Liam showing off his radical tattoo |
 |
| One move during a poi ball dance is to cross your arms and hit your back with the poi. It was pretty funny to watch Will do that. |
 |
| In Tonga they pulled these three characters out of the audience to play the drums. No rhythm. At all. |
 |
| The Fijian temple is this tall so the prayers are closer to God |
 |
| Marquesas as we were punting down the canal that travels through the PCC |
 |
| Our fabulous tour guides. The guy on the right actually knew one of Will's mission companions (who used to work at the PCC too). Small world. |
 |
| All the cultures punted down the canal during a show in the middle of the day. This is the Hawaiian Royal Court. |
 |
| Aotearoa |
 |
| Samoa |
 |
| Fiji. I was surprised by how African Fijians appeared to me. Their hair and facial features looked very African. |
 |
| Hawaii |
 |
| Tonga |
 |
| Tahiti. I am blown away by how they can shake their hips on Tahiti. Unreal. |
 |
| We attended a luau for dinner, started off by the Hawaiian royal court |
 |
| Removing the Kalua Pig from the pit for dinner |
 |
| They called up all the July Birthdays on stage, so Grant naturally ran up there |
 |
| Little did he know, his birthday present was a free hula lesson |
 |
| His facial expressions are Priceless!! |
 |
| 13-year-olds are the best. |
 |
| Photography is not allowed during the Night Show, but this is the stage. We were just rows from all the action. It was awesome. |
Theme Song: Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride, Mark Keali'i Ho'omalu
No comments:
Post a Comment