First Tongan in the NFL Emphasizes Education

Two of the five men honored during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame enshrinement activities at the Polynesian Cultural Center on January 30, 2016, have close personal ties to Laie. One of them, the first Tongan to play in the NFL, took extra time to explain those...

Tonga Tapa

  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

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...
Tongan Lupulu Recipe

Tongan Lupulu Recipe

Make your own Tongan lūpulu at home You don’t need to live on a tropical island or cook in an underground oven to make lūpulu, one of Tonga’s most favorite dishes for your own feast:  As Alamoti Taumoepeau, manager of the Tonga Village at the Polynesian Cultural...