Polynesian Cultural Center on Oahu
The day after our somber visit to Pearl Harbor, my travel companion and I went for the celebratory atmosphere of the Polynesian Cultural Center in La’ie.
The 45-acre PCC features recreated villages representing different cultures of Polynesia; it’s like an island version of EPCOT. Each “village” offers shows that introduce some aspect of its culture.
We enjoyed coconut bread-baking in Tahiti, fire-building in Samoa, drum-playing in Tonga, and a ceremonial nose-rubbing welcome in Aotearoa (better known to Americans as New Zealand).
At a mid-day “Canoe Pageant”, native Polynesians sail past visitors while wearing traditional native costumes, like these Hawaiians representing their royal court:
It’s not all light-hearted, though. A mock pig hunt in Marquesas reminds well-off Western visitors of the hand-to-mouth existence of much of the world. In Fiji, we learned about the traditional Old Folks Homes, where children are daily left on the care of their grandparents, who teach them their history and culture while their parents work. Not only does the system provide loving care for children, it allows older people to work and contribute when they can no longer perform harder labor. But as education becomes more formalized, these Old Folks Homes are disappearing, and with them, their family-building power and the respect for the aged.
Ironically, the PCC began as an effort to help bring quality education to the young people of Polynesia. Owned by the Mormon church, the Center provides a way for students to afford education at Brigham Young University’s Hawaii campus. Most of the PCC’s workers are native Polynesian students there.
We stayed until the “villages” closed at 6:00. The PCC made for a wonderful last full day in Hawaii. When I travel, I like to end with a robust excursion so that I won’t be sad thinking about leaving, and the Polynesian Cultural Center, 35 miles from Waikiki, made for a delightful not-quite finale.
I fell in love with travel on a trip to Mexico when I was nine years old. Since then, I’ve travelled the globe from Israel to El Salvador. I’ve skied the Swiss Alps and hiked national parks like Acadia, Zion, Shenandoah, and Virgin Islands. I’ve marvelled at masterpieces in the Prado, the Uffizi, the Huntington, and the National Gallery of Art. I’ve stayed in a cabin on a mountaintop in Norway and on a kibbutz along the Sea of Galilee, and been kicked out of the Ritz at the Place Vendôme. I’ve taken cooking classes from New England to the Caribbean, and watched a chef prepare traditional shakshuka in the kitchen of his restaurant in Tel Aviv. I weave historical research and my personal experiences together in writing this blog. I hope you find it helpful. Read more …
We lived in Hawaii for 4 years (Big Island) and spent quite a bit of time on Oahu as well, but never made it here. Thanks for the reminder to go when we bring our kids back! We’re now down in Samoa, and are picking away at traveling to the other Polynesian Islands (NZ a few months ago, Fiji this summer) so wonderful they have a villages representing the giant Pacific!
I think it would be a wonderful place to bring kids–fun and educational!
I love the PCC! I’ve been twice and I’m sure I’ll return again in the future 🙂 I love going to places full of different culture and being able to learn from the people. The whole program is amazing! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, it’s nice to hear from a kindred spirit!
It’s been 20 years since I’ve been to the Polynesian Cultural Center. I think I’m ready to go back! I love how you described it like Epcot. Great analogy!
Thanks very much! I’m ready to go back too.
I’ve been to Oahu a few times but this is one place that I keep meaning to visit but haven’t yet. Thanks for the great info! I’ll need to make a point to check it out next time I’m there, hopefully soon!
I hope you can visit soon. It is such an intriguing place–might even give ideas for further travels!
So beautiful!! I hope to go back someday! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you! I hope you can return soon.
Wow! This sounds so interesting! I really want to get to Hawaii. Hopefully soon!
I hope you have the chance to visit soon. It’s such a unique place.