A Noble Heritage: Tonga

A Noble Heritage: Tonga

Mālō e Lelei, the Tongans say in greeting, as we focus on their village and activities in our November 2014 e-newsletter. Tongan culture is still very much alive, not only here at the Polynesian Cultural Center, but back home in the South Pacific and among our people...

Ta Moko: Maori Tattooing

Ever since I read Keri Hulme’s The Bone People, I have been fascinated with Maori symbols and tattoos, particularly the meanings and significance behind each line of the work. The facial tattoos kinda scared me, but the patterns were still captivating.   According to...

Maori Haka Dance

Aotearoa, “the land of the long white cloud,” is more commonly known to its visitors as New Zealand. Its beautiful mountains, fields, rivers and streams boast more than just being the filming place of the popular Lord of the Rings trilogy; they are home to a proud and...