It’s all About Ohana at the Polynesian Cultural Center
Dear
Polite Traveler,
Realizing
that I would lose an entire day of my trip to paradise has kept me from
visiting the Polynesian Cultural Center
for years. However, it got to the point
that I had to ask myself, “Why?”. Why would
I consider visiting a place so full of history and island culture a waste of my
time when I highly value ohana (family/home)?
Silly and wrong thinking.
Thankfully,
I finally made the commitment of a single day because I found the experience to
be an enrichment of the soul and exciting to boot. It is definitely not a waste of an entire
day.
Note:
Follow CDC and park guidelines when visiting.
Always wear your face mask when in public.
Getting there isn’t easy
Unless
staying on the north end of Oahu, getting to the cultural
center takes time. It takes over an hour
to reach the Polynesian Cultural Center from Waikiki. Much of this is on a busy highway that has
more than a few potholes.
But
then again, don’t most of our highways need repair? I’ll save that last comment for another
article.
Arrive early, but not hungry
It’s
best not to dawdle when you arrive. We
made the mistake of stopping at the Pounder’s Restaurant for coconut crème pie
(Yummy!). As amazing as this was, it
cost us time in the park and you’ll need every second of your time to see every
show.
The
park is separated into different islands: Aotearoa (home of the Māori), Fiji,
Hawai’i, Samoa, Tahiti, and Tonga. The
peoples of each “island” present a traditional performance—usually a dance and
lecture every 30 minutes or so.
Unfortunately,
we missed the Islands of Hawai’i presentation.
As wonderful and enjoyable the remainder of the shows were, I can only
imagine this one is as well.
Please watch these snippets of three shows I recorded to share with you.
Are those people dancing on those boats?
Of
all the performances in the park, the Canoe Pageant is the one to see. Dancers from each island perform traditional
dances atop a canoe, more of a raft, which is guided down the river that flows
through the center of the park. The
pageant is narrated so guests learn even more about each of the Polynesian
cultures. It was fascinating and
something I will remember fondly. I mean
really, what could be better than large rafts topped with energetic
dancers? Well, perhaps it could be
watching the unique play, Hā; The Breath of Life.
Hā; The Breath of Life
As
wonderful as I imagined the play to be, I still wasn’t sold on sitting for 90
minutes at night after a long day of exploring.
To be honest, I thought I would want fall asleep soon after my behind
hit the bench. But, no. There was no possible way anyone could sleep
through this lively performance.
Over
100 performers of each Polynesian island perform in this beautifully acted
play. The story revolves around a couple
who flee their island as a volcano erupts.
Luckily, they arrive at an island just in time for the wife to give
birth. Friendly villagers—played by
Tongans—take them in and offer them a home.
From this point, we watch the boy grow into a man, fall in love, fight
off intruders and finally have a child of his own. Each scene is played by a different island
people. I LOVED it!
The audience wasn’t allowed to record any of the Hā; The Breath of Life performance. However, there are several YouTube videos available that share portions of this unique show. Have a peek:
Why the fluttering hands?
While
I enjoyed exploring and learning about each culture, I had a nagging question
while watching the energetic and prolific Maori dancers. During their dances, they flutter their hands
quickly. I knew it meant something but
wasn’t sure what that “something” is.
Luckily, we have Google and Bing to aid us in circumstances such as
these. Evidently, the fluttering hands
symbolize shimmering waters, heat waves, or breezes depending on the dance. Makes sense!
Tips
- Arrive early and skip dining before entering the park.
- Take the “Island Canoe Ride” to the end of the park to begin your journey.
There
is more to each island than the performances.
Please check out their website for more
information about what you will find.
What
are your experiences?
Hotel Review: Hilton Garden Inn
Waikiki
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