Polynesian Cultural Center

Thursday - September 11, 2008

The students of Hawaii Technology Institute (HTI) ventured out to the Windward Coast to experience the cultural extravaganza that is the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC).  PCC is located on the outskirts of Laie, a small town on the northern coast of O`ahu and home of the Brigham Young University - Hawaii (BYUH) campus.   Our students walked the 42-acre Polynesian playground that showcases the eight Pacific regions of Samoa, Aotearoa (New Zealand), the Marquesas, Tahiti, Tonga, Hawaii and Rapa Nui (Easter Island).  While visiting each of the villages, students tried out different customs and languages and participate in hands-on games and activities.


The students were fascinated to learn that the majority of the employees at PCC were themselves students from the BYUH campus, PCC’s next-door neighbor.  Another interesting fact they learned was that PCC was founded in 1965 and was created so students of BYUH could work their way through college while perpetuating the diverse cultures of Polynesia.  After walking through the villages, students enjoyed a welcomed breather sitting under some coconut trees to watch the canoe pageant go by.  In this fun event, a troupe from each village does their customary dance on a canoe guided by a young man.  It seemed as though the object of each canoe was to rock it so very much that the steersman would fall into the lagoon.  People were laughing and applauding as the group from the island of Samoa managed to accomplish their mission.  In went the steersman who came up laughing and bowing to the audience as he climbed back on board to continue the journey.


Toward the end of a long day, the students went to a nearby park, opened up the long-awaited pot luck dishes they brought to feed their hungry opu.  After ravishing the food, then resting, the students were ready for the night show.  “Horizons: Where the Sea Meets the Sky” is the title of the night-time extravaganza, complete with a light show, thunderous and crackling sounds and fiery scenes that easily brought on bursts of “oohs” and “ahhs” from the audience.  Our HTI students were wide-eyed, full of laughter, clapping earnestly after each performance.


Anyone could tell the length of the day was taking its toll, but nevertheless, each student expressed how memorably awesome a day it was.