Other PCC and related news

PFHOF sets inaugural prep all-star game in Hawaii: The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame — whose museum display is located near the Hukilau Market Place main entrance of the Polynesian Cultural Center and features FREE-ADMISSION — has set its inaugural high school football all-star game at Aloha Stadium on January 21, 2017.

 

2014 Heisman and PFHOF Polynesian College Football Player of the Year awards winner Marcus Mariota, now with the Tennesee Titans, and Ronnie Stanley, the PFHOF 2015 College Football Player of the Year who now plays for the Baltimore Ravens, will respectively coach the two teams consisting primarily of Polynesian players from Hawaii, the US mainland, Australia, New Zealand, Tonga and Samoa. Game organizers are freportedly trying to get ESPN3 to broadcast the event.

BTW, if you’re interested, the PFHOF Facebook page lists all of the Polys currently playing in the NFL. HINT: The Tennessee Titans have the most . . . at six players.

 Breadfruit summit in Laie: Breadfruit — which is called ‘ulu in Hawaiian, Samoan and Tongan or ‘uru in Tahitian and has been a crucial food staple in the Pacific islands for millennia — was the focus of the 2016 Hawaii, Pacific & Global Breadfruit Summit held at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie from August 27-31, 2016.

The conference — co-sponsored by the University of Hawaii’s Pacific Business Center Program, Courtyard Marriott Hotel in Laie, the Olohana Foundation, Agroforestry Net, the Breadfruit Heritage Council and the National Tropical Botanical Garden — discussion topics included a look at using traditional island knowledge and wisdom combined with modern science and technology to help spread the potential impact of breadfruit worldwide.

 

Dr. Tevita ‘O Kaili, Associate Professor and Department Chair of the Language, Culture and the Arts at Brigham Young University–Hawaii and a PCC alumnus, was one of the panel participants. Also renowned Hawaiian chef Sam Choy, who grew up in Laie before launching his career and helping develop and popularize Hawaii regional cuisine, delivered a keynote address.

In addition to the summit sessions in the Hawaiian Journey Theater, many of the participants also enjoyed the Polynesian Cultural Center’s Ali’i Luau and evening show, Hā: Breath of Life.

 Laie hotel marks one-year anniversary: The Courtyard Marriott hotel, which is adjacent to the makai [oceanward] side of the Polynesian Cultural Center, recently observed its first-year anniversary (June 29th).

“Occupancy at the hotel has been strong and growing this first year, as guests look beyond Waikiki to experience true Polynesian hospitality,” said Milton Lafitaga, the hotel’s Director of Sales.

 

 

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Story and images by Mike Foley

Mike Foley, who has worked off-and-on

at the Polynesian Cultural Center since

1968,  has been a full-time freelance

writer and digital media specialist since

2002, and had a long career in marketing

communications and PR before that. He

learned to speak fluent Samoan as a

Mormon missionary before moving to Laie

in 1967 — still does, and he has traveled

extensively over the years throughout

Polynesia and other Pacific islands. Foley

is mostly retired now, but continues to

contribute to various PCC and other media.