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MOST RECENT POSTS
5 ways to keep cool at the Polynesian Cultural Center
There’s no reason to let the high temperatures stop you from making the most of your visit to the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) and the opportunity to explore the rich heritage of the Pacific Islands. Here are five tips to beat the heat while on your trip to one of Hawai’i’s most popular attractions.
Tongan Proverbs: Wisdom, Stories & Cultural Significance
Fakatu’amelie ki he ‘ete taonga ‘oku tautau i he fu’u telie.
Top 5 North Shore Hikes on O‘ahu
Looking for a great way to burn some calories before spending the day at the Polynesian Cultural Center? The North Shore of O‘ahu provides amazing trails that allow you to see the beautiful island and sneak another delicious açaí bowl or serving of kalua pork.
Whare Tupuna: Symbolism, Origins & Cultural Significance
The Maori whare tupuna or ancestral meeting house is perhaps the most symbolically rich structure at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie, Hawaii.
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Polynesian Cultural Center pioneer: Patoa Benioni
More than 50 years ago, Patoa — who was born in Aitutaki in 1941 but spent most of his boyhood on Rarotonga in the Cook Islands — played a key role as an original Polynesian Cultural Center performer. Today, almost everybody calls him Patoa or Uncle Patoa, but like some Polynesians, his actual name is much longer: Te Are Toa O Te Patoa o Maouna Tama Pikikaa Benioni.
Long-time friend Pulefano Galea’i remembered Patoa … as “a great singer, leader, composer, and a great drummer. But one thing he always had in mind, he wanted to bring people here from the Cook Islands.
“Yesterday Patoa and I sat together watching a full-fledged Cook Island group. “Patoa, you can never be forgotten for all that you’ve contributed to the Polynesian Cultural Center, to Laie, and to all of us,” Galea’i said.
Cook Islands performers thrill at the Polynesian Cultural Center
The Cook Islands group “consists of five drummers, four female dancers, four male dancers, and two weavers plus the group leaders,” said PCC senior manager William Mahoni, who has been coordinating logistics for them. He added they perform every afternoon in a special mini-village located between the PCC’s Hawaiian and Tahitian Villages, and also several evenings each week in the Center’s Hukilau Marketplace
North Shore Beach Guide: Best Spots, Activities & Local Tips
The beaches along the North Shore of Oahu are what dreams are made of. Sand, waves, tropical trees swaying in the breeze and a magical mix of colorful sea life and majestic turtles. What you may not know, however, is how distinctly unique each beach is. Want to learn to surf? Castles might be your best spot. Want to see world class surfing? Then it’s Bonzai Pipeline all the way, baby! Read more to find the perfect beach for your vacation.
Polynesian Cultural Center showcases Cook Islanders
The Polynesian Cultural Center will showcase a group of 17 performers and cultural leaders from the Cook Islands for a six-week run from July 17-August 24, 2017.
PCC manager William Mahoni, who has been coordinating the group’s appearance at the Center, said, “We have had a few small groups and special visitors from the Cook Islands over the years, but this will be the first time we will have a group stay for six weeks. We’re excited.”
Fire Knives vs. Batons: History, Skills & Cultural Significance
A former majorette, Sue Ann Long and Polynesian Cultural Center Samoan cultural ambassador Kap Te’o-Tafiti compare twirling batons and spinning fire knives.
Special artisans at PCC’s Te Manahua 2017 festival
The Polynesian Cultural Center’s Aotearoa Village has invited an amazing slate of special artisans from New Zealand to our biannual Te Manahua Festival. The event will be held
in the PCC’s Aotearoa Village from July 13-15, 2017.
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