Tonga Tapa

by | Feb 19, 2016 | Cultures of Polynesia, Tonga

  One of my favorite activities to see at the Polynesian Cultural Center is the tapa making demonstration in Tongan. It’s not only fun to watch but very educational at the same time. I just think it’s amazing that cloth can be made out of the bark of a tree. As I...

Pounding Poi

by | Jan 28, 2016 | Cultures of Polynesia, Hawai'i

Poi pounding flavors our hula event The PCC’s Hawaiian Village routinely offers visitors the opportunity to sample poi, or even try their hand at pounding boiled taro into the famous Hawaiian staple food; but during the 26th annual Moanikeala festival this year a...

26th Moanikeala Hula Festival

by | Jan 28, 2016 | Cultures of Polynesia

PCC puts on 26th annual Moanikeala Hula Festival Following a brief Hawaiian flag-raising ceremony, village “chief” Kaipo Manoa explained the festival honors the PCC’s original kumu hula, Aunty Sally Moanikeala Wood Naluai. “I was really surprised at the spirit of...

Mele and Iosepa 2015

by | Dec 18, 2015 | Cultures of Polynesia

Christmas is a special time on the islands. We not only celebrate the joy and magic of the season, we know how to have fun! As a special holiday gift, we have prepared our own Christmas tale. Iosepa is our brave, Fijiian warrior. He is mighty, he is strong, he is a...
Tonga, the Friendly Islands

Tonga, the Friendly Islands

by | Dec 15, 2015 | Cultures of Polynesia, Tonga

Malo e lele! Welcome to the friendly islands of the Kingdom of Tonga. There are about 171 islands in the three main island groups of Tongatapu, Ha’apai, and Vava’u. Tonga has the distinction of being the only island nation that was never formally colonized by a...

Tonga Time

by | Dec 14, 2015 | Cultures of Polynesia, Tonga

Tonga, like it’s cousins across the Pacific, has it’s own approach to time. Today may mean tomorrow. Half an hour may be more like two hours or in some cases two days or even a week. If you are a foreigner this may take a bit of adjusting to, but remember you...