When we weren't relaxing at the Aulani, we were out exploring fun things around the island. We devoted one full day to learning all about the rich heritage of the Pacific Islands at the one and only Polynesian Cultural Center! This place is ginormous and gorgeous, there 42 acres of tropical splendor to experience. We covered a lot of ground in just one day, we visited 5 out of the 6 villages, we attended the authentic Polynesian luau for lunch, we made sure to catch the afternoon grand canoe show, we took a tram out to see the gorgeous Hawaiian temple, and we ended our night with the action packed evening show HA.
We began our day by exploring some of the authentic villages, we started with the Samoan village. Each villages has hands on activities and a cultural presentation, at certain times throughout the day.
We started off with weaving fish toys out of leaves.
My finished fish! You could make the fish go up and down the reed by casting it like a fishing rod. I couldn't believe we made such a cool toy in just a matter of second using materials all from nature, it was a really cool activity.
We made sure to get a good seat for the Samoan Cultural Presentation, we had heard this was one of the center's most popular presentations.
“O le ala I le pule o le tautua” (the path to authority and leadership is through service)
The people of Samoa know how to have fun, in fact, their sense of humor is well known throughout Polynesia. But the root of that wit is based on love, respect, and generosity. We definitely witnessed this wit and humor during the presentation, especially from Kap who is a PCC legend.
We had been on the lookout for Kap because when we were at the airport back in SLC and were checking in our bags for our flight to Hawaii, the attendant checking us in used to work at the PCC and he told us a message to pass on to Kap if we saw him during our visit. We had no idea what part of this large property Kap worked at, but we were so excited when we saw him at our very first presentation. We made sure to meet him after the presentation at his art booth, he is a very talented artist, to pass along the message which made him laugh. He was definitely a highlight of our entire trip.
Kap taught us all about everything you can do with a single coconut, beginning with how to husk it.
Then how to break the coconut open with just a rock.
Then using the husk as fire building materials. You can just see how much fun they have on stage.
After the presentation, we all followed Kap and his fellow presenters outside so they could show us how to climb a 40-foot palm tree in bare feet.
After our time in Samoa, we moved on to the Tongan village.
The cultural presentation in Tonga is beautiful and filled with fun times and laughs, especially for a few select audience members. Three members from the audience were called down to have a drumming competition, it was pretty entertaining to watch. We also all learned how to dance sitting down and enjoyed listening and learning about Hawaiian Island music.
Lex got this awesome pineapple drink as a refresher while we traveled between the villages, we had to move pretty quickly to fit everything in, so a refreshing beverage was very much needed.
Next up was Fiji! We didn't get to spend too much time here, we arrived just in time to catch the end of the cultural presentation, we were in the very back and I didn't have a good enough view to take pictures. There had been rain showers on and off for most of the morning, so the presentation was moved inside and they weren't doing any of the hands on activities while we were there.
From Fiji, we traveled to Hawaii!
Hawaii was like Fiji in that they weren't doing the hands on activities outside, but we were able to get front row seats to the cultural presentation which was amazing. We learned about the beauty of Hawaii through traditional song and dance. Hawaii dancing is absolutely gorgeous, so fluid and gentle.
After our day touring through the entire Polynesian Cultural Center, we were able to catch the very last shuttle for the Laie Hawaii Temple tour. The temple and the surrounding landscaping is absolutely stunning. It was fun to see it at dusk, when there was still a little light outside but all the golden, exterior lights had been turned on.
The Laie Hawaii Temple was the first LDS temple built in Polynesia (and in Hawaii), and was the first temple built outside of the continental United States. The completed Laie Temple was dedicated on Thanksgiving Day in 1919, by Heber J. Grant, just one year after the passing of President Joseph F. Smith who had dedicated the site and had served as a missionary in Hawaii at the tender age of 15.
The exterior is made out of concrete made of native crushed lava rock and coral, reinforced with steel. It is dressed by pneumatic stone cutting tools to produce a white cream finish
Carved friezes, created by sculptor Avard Fairbanks, decorate each side of the top of the temple, depicting four dispensations of time: Old Testament Dispensation (west), New Testament Dispensation (south), Book of Mormon Dispensation (north), and Latter-day Dispensation (east).
Pictures from our traditional Luau lunch and the Grand Canoe Show are coming up next!
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