We planned our day to be spent on the North Shore at The Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie located next to BYU Hawaii. We spent the day exploring the rich heritage of the Pacific Islands in this 42 acres of tropical splendor. Here we travel through time and space as we experience thousands of years worth of culture from six different island nations, each with its own flavor and appeal: Tonga, Tahiti, Samoa, Aotearoa (new Zealand), Fuji and Hawaii. What an experience!
The Polynesian
Cultural Center greets us with a statue of Hamana Kalili, a Laie, Oahu
resident, who lost three fingers. Hamana went on to become a community elder
and source of wisdom living up to his name, Ha-Mana, Ha meaning “Breath of
Life” and Mana meaning “Personal Power.” People imitated what became his
familiar wave, which consisted of the thumb and little finger extended and the
three middle fingers folded down (or, in his case, missing). It is now known as
the shaka sign, sometimes known as "hang loose", and is a gesture of
friendly intent often associated with Hawaii and surf culture - the hand may be
rotated back and forth for emphasis.
Joseph Kekuku,
a native of Laie Oahu, was inducted into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame with
full honors as the inventor of the Hawaiian steel guitar. A statue of him was
erected here at the Polynesian Cultural Center in 2015.
To get a brief view and some facts of the six island nations, we boarded our Canoe tour down the tropical lagoon. We passed the various villages while our docent told us some facts of each nation. It is a beautiful journey down the lagoon.
Visiting the Iosepa Hewa’a Kaukua was our next stop. This is a 57-foot wooden ocean voyaging canoe. A hewa’a kaulua is a double-hulled canoe. Ancient voyagers traveled 2400 miles to Hawaii in double-hulled canoes.
Visiting the villages was fun. Just a few highlights that come to mind ---
In Hawaii there were playing ancient games, dance with grace, learn how to fish without a net and sample poi. Hawaii is a beautiful place!
While in Aotearoa (New Zealand) learning the significance of Maori tattoos, watching dexterity by playing with twirling poi balls, and watching the Maori warrior dance known as, “the Haka.”
Feel the beat, honor the chief, gaze upon a Fijian skyscraper, and learning why their warriors are mighty and feared. Everyone finds strength in Fiji.
We felt the heat, saw some muscle, enjoyed Samoan song and dance and marveled as a young warrior climbs a 40-foot coconut tree-in his bare feet. We became a part of the 'happy people' at the Samoan village.
We witnessed a special Tahiti wedding ceremony - romance with an island beat! Learning about underwater Tahitian pearl farms, full body tattoos and Tahitian royalty are part of this nation. In Tahiti, love is always in the air!
At the Tonga Island Nation, spear tossing, laughing until your sides hurt, choosing our favorite 'guest' drummer were all part of the Tongan village which is filled with joy, and they're happy to share!
Completing a full day enjoying all of the villages from the Island Nations, we had a wonderful dinner at The Polynesian Center’s Gateway Buffet. The shopping area of the Cultural Center was in full Christmas décor!
To finish off our day we went over to Kendall's BYU Student Building to see the Christmas decorations that were put up. The room sparkled with the holiday spirit.
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