Teaching Hawaiian

Meet Nā’auao: Hawaiian language teacher, composer, chanter “I’ve always been interested in the Hawaiian language. I heard it growing up and knew vocabulary, but I didn’t really speak it. My grandfather, my dad’s dad, was a native speaker, but he passed away when I was...

2016 Launch of the Iosepa & other news

Update on the sailing canoe Iosepa:  The Iosepa launches from Hukilau Beach on June 15, 2016. Photo by Mark Holladay Lee The BYU–Hawaii/Polynesian Cultural Center 57-foot, single-masted wa’a kaulua or twin-hulled traditional Hawaiian sailing canoe Iosepa — which is...

Polynesian Royalty

We love our Polynesian royalty  Most people in modern Hawaii cherish the many reminders of our aloha state’s royal heritage. For example, we’re the only state graced by a royal palace — Iolani Palace in Honolulu; the Kamehameha Schools are the sole beneficiary of the...

Pounding Poi

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

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...