(Part 4) Hawaii Without the Beaches: The Polynesian Cultural Center and the Morning Island Tour!!

- May 22, 2018, Tuesday.

- The Hawaiian Islands are part of the Polynesian geocultural area in the Pacific Ocean, together with the Melanesia and Micronesian geocultural areas. In the Polynesian geocultural area, which is the biggest among the three geocultural areas, multiple cultures thrive among these scattered islands. Fortunately, Hawaii has a place where visitors can appreciate, experience, and learn from these cultures. This is the Polynesian Cultural Center (will be henceforth referred to as the "PCC"), opened in the 1960s, and owned by the Church of the Latter Day Saints and the Brigham Young University - Hawaii. I think that after a day in Pearl Harbor (click here) - with all that stress and emotional baggage after learning and understanding World War 1 more - a trip to the PCC was a good idea, to at least see happier and more colorful things.

- Before going on to details about the PCC, let me show you some things around Oahu. After all, when I booked my day trip to the PCC with my hotel travel desk, my very awesome travel agent Malia told me that we could avail a morning tour around the island (this package is usually called "Circle Island Tour" in most travel agencies) to see some interesting spots in Oahu. Although people can actually book this morning trip and the entrance to the PCC on their own through the PCC website (click here), I thought of booking if through my agent to make sure that things will be smooth sailing. After all, my family's Hawaii trip was a bit last minute, and I was doing everything for this trip (as I always do when it comes to DIY trips with the family) while juggling my other responsibilities in life. (Yes, arranging things for a trip is actual HARD work, especially if you're meticulous like me. I like doing this kind of work, I really just hoped I had more time.) The reason why booking a day trip to the PCC is important is because it's located at the far end of the island, at the opposite side from where all the tourist stuff and hotels are. People go there either by booking a day trip, or renting a car. Do note that the PCC opens at noon, which is why combining it with a morning trip around the island is a good idea. All the spots are along the way to the PCC anyway. (IMPORTANT NOTE: THE PCC IS CLOSED ON SUNDAYS.)

- We first went to the Amelia Earhart Lookout, named after Amelia Earhart, the first person pilot to fly solo to (and crash in) Hawaii, and the Diamond Head Lookout, where an up close view of the Diamond Head can be seen. The Diamond Head is a collection of volcanic land forms. From there, we also had a short stop at Halona Blowhole. One of my favorite natural spots in Hawaii is the Halona Blowhole because I found it unusual. The waves crash to the shore, and the holes inside the rocks shoots water like a geyser. The bigger the wave, the higher it shoots!

Amelia Earhart was here!

Hawaiian seas.

A part of Diamond Head from the van.

Towers of rocks.

At Hanauma Bay.

Hello Hanauma Blowhole!!

- From the two lookouts and the blowhole, we were driven to see Rabbit Island from the shore, as well as the Makapu'u lighthouse, a guiding light for ships around the area since the 1800s. Around 30 minutes later, we arrived at Pali Lookout, which I already visited in Day 2 (click here). Our final stop before going to the PCC was the Dole Plantation. Although there are more things to be done in the Dole Plantation, such as a tour around the plantation, we were only given a limited time and it was mainly a stop to shop for Dole products. However, thanks to some tips from blogs and vlogs I've seen online, one of the things people run to when visiting the Dole Plantation is the pineapple ice cream. I know it sounds weird and too acidic for an ice cream, but trust me, it's delicious! It was perfect for a warm Hawaiian morning too! Just a tip, once you arrive at Dole Plantation, RUN TO THE BACK. If you don't hurry up, you might run out of time (unless you have all the time in the world) as there is always a long line there - and yes, the pineapple ice cream is not really a secret among tourists.

Makapu'u Lighthouse (that tiny thing, yes. It's just very far away.)

Rabbit Island, because, they say, it looks like a rabbit.

Framing.

At Pali Lookout. OMG A CHICKEN AND HER CHICKS.

I'm back!!

Go back to Part 2 for a more detailed explanation about this place. 

The weird things you see at Pali Lookout

THE FAMOUS DOLE PINEAPPLE ICE CREAM!!

Yes, I am here.

- Right after our scenic morning tour of Oahu, at long last, we arrived at the PCC!! Visitors of PCC can avail tickets that have a guided tour of the different Polynesian "villages" in the PCC or just an entry ticket without the guided tour. Since I wanted more flexibility and liberty, I bought the one without the guided tour (it is the cheaper ticket too, of course).

You will be welcomed with two giant tikis.

- As mentioned earlier, the PCC opens at noon, and we got there just around the time that it opened. (REMINDER: THE PCC IS CLOSED ON SUNDAYS.)We had lunch at one of the food trucks present near the ticket booth and the big theater (named the Pacific Theater) where the evening performance is held every night. There are also some souvenir shops and some snack stalls around that area. One thing you'll immediately notice when going around the PCC is that it has a lot of young staff. This is mainly because most of the employees in the PCC are students of Brigham Young University (BYU), one of the owners of this theme park. Part of the profits of this park go to scholarship funds for BYU students; in turn, these scholars work a particular number of hours at the PCC. You will notice that they have flags pinned on their shirts, which show the country of origin and/or the language that they speak.

- Since my family bought the basic ticket, which did not have a guide, we had all the freedom to go around the park. This park has 6 villages: Samoa, Aoteroa (New Zealand/Maori), Fiji, Hawaii, Tahiti, and Tonga. Each village has people from the appropriate ethnic group who are ready to show their culture through performances, handicraft lessons, performance lessons, or just a plain chat about their culture. (Do note that these are just the main groups of people in the Polynesia, and there are actually more cultures and groups of people present in these islands.) The concept of the park is greatly similar to the Formosan Aboriginal Village near Sun Moon Lake in Central Taiwan (click here) and to some extent, Thailand's Siam Niramit (click here).

- We first visited the village of Samoa, Aoteroa (New Zealand), and Fiji. Most people know that New Zealand is off the southeastern coast of Hawaii, but what about Samoa and Fiji? Samoa is halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii, and is fairly close to both the Melanesian and Micronesian Islands. Samoa is known for its fire knife dance, locally known as "ailao afi" (note that "afi" is a cognate of the Filipino "apoy", the Malaysian/Indonesian "api" even some indigenous Taiwanese groups' "apuy.")

Tools used by Samoans and weapons.

Samoan dance headdress.

Boats are essential in all cultures of Polynesia, Melanesia, and Micronesia.

Making fire, I think.

Fire dance.

- Aoteroa, the Maori name for New Zealand, is the southern frontier of the Polynesian group of islands. The Maori people of New Zealand are known for the intense haka performances. The haka is a mix of dance, poetry/speech, singing, and big facial expressions (which sometimes involves sticking out one's tongue), and is traditionally a war cry, and a proclamation of strength. Today, it is also sometimes performed as a way to welcome and give respect to distinguished guests. 

A marae, or a communal house. This kind of house is where people meet for celebrations, sort of like a village function hall and meeting room. The village chief is at the back.

Maori spears.

I should have done a fierce face. I look too happy here. (My shirt by the way has motifs of Polynesian tattoos. 

This is a very very long boat. It was probably around 15 feet long. 

No, it is not a sumo wrestler. No, I am not a sumo wrestler.

Trying to do a hula stance.

Maori dance.

- Fiji is a tiny island that is actually part of Melanesia, not Polynesia. Studies however show that the culture of Fiji is closer to Polynesian cultures as it is one of the island nations at the border of Melanesia and Polynesia. The Fijians are known for their fire walking ceremony. Traditionally, it is some kind of right of passage among men. Apart from that, Fiji is also known for having a sizable Hindu population due to forced migration of Indians in the 1800s. These Indians were indentured laborers and brought to Fiji by the British. Since then, many of these indentured laborers settled in Fiji with some marrying with the locals. Today, these Indo-Fijians still speak a localized variant of Hindi and even celebrate Hindu festivals like Diwali.

Fiji (Village)!!

Made from traditional fabrics.

Fans.

Inside a chieftain's house.

Wow!! Coconut oil making!!

A traditional Fijian temple or "bure kalou." When many Fijians converted to Christianity "thanks to" the British, many bure kalous were either repurposed or just left alone. (Trivia: Although this bure kakou is just a replica, this is the only bure kakou outside Fiji.)

- Before we continued our visit of the villages, we sat down at one of the two spots where the daily Polynesian pageant happens. The pageant is a parade of floating platforms where the different ethnic groups perform. I think it happens only once a day (around 2:30pm), so it should not be missed!

Hawaii.

Tonga.

Tahiti.

Aoteroa/Maori.

Samoa.

Fiji.

- The floating parade lasted around 30 minutes, and fortunately, our next stop was in the village Hawaii, located just behind where we watched the parade. A small highlight of my visit to the PCC was that I got to do a 15-minute hula lesson while I was in the village of Hawaii. Before I left Manila for this trip, I actually just thought that I'd be able to watch some real hula and it was going to be enough for me. However, deep inside, I really wanted the chance to learn the hula because I found it interesting and meaningful. The hula dance is danced by both men and women - my teacher was actually a guy! Although most people know the graceful and feminine kind of hula, the hula is also danced by warriors-to-be and warriors alike. Each movement has a meaning, and is highly similar to dance dramas of other countries like India.

Hula lesson.

Another one of the times that I was mistaken for a staff of the park - I dressed like them. (The shirtless guy was my hula teacher.)

Inside a Hawaiian chieftain's house.

This would be a good "glamping" house.

With a coconut tree and a Hawaiian hut.

He's making fishing nets.

- From the village of Hawaii, we walked back, passing by the Rapa Nui (Easter Island) monuments, to the restaurant where we had an early dinner. It was a traditional Hawaiian dinner buffet with a cultural show which, of course, showcased rituals and dances from the different villages in the PCC. We had an early dinner because our dinner buffet ticket says that we should be at the restaurant around 4:30, so we had no choice. 

Rapa Nui (Easter Island) statues. These are memorials for the dead. The Easter Islands form the southeastern frontier of the Polynesian geocultural area. They're also the closest to South America. 

During (our very early) dinner. This shows the Hawaiian royalty and royal protocols on who stands beside whom.

Tahiti.

Look at those little children dancing the hula!!

When you see dinner in the middle of the forest.

- We had to leave the restaurant without finishing the whole show since we wanted to see the other villages at the other side of the park: Tonga and Tahiti. Tonga is is a group of islands near Fiji, and is distinct particularly for the ta'ovala, or waist mats. Although weaving and basketry are done globally, the Tongans make it a point to use them as their fashion statement. These mats are used by both men and women, and the nicer ta'ovala are used as formal clothing.

Just bringing this photo from the pageant to show you a performer wearing a short ta'ovala underneath his fringed skirt.

Chieftain's house. The curtain at the left side is Tongan tapa cloth.

Chief's bed.

Another hut with photos of the prime ministers of Tonga.

- Tahiti is an island to the southeastern side of the Polynesian islands; it is part of French Polynesia, which is a group of islands administered by France. Tahiti is home to the French Polynesian capital of Papeete. The Tahitian culture is most known for the tamure (read as "ta-mu-reh"), which is iconic for its intense hip shaking.

Tahitian dance costume.

A simpler one.

Tahitians love their woven stuff!!

- After going around all the villages, we rested near the Pacific Theater until it was time for our evening show called "Ha: Breath of Life." "Ha: Breath of Life" is shown nightly in the arena-like Pacific Theater. This is a story about life and death and the circle of life (yes, it is sort of like The Lion King without the talking animals animals.) It follows the journey of a man from his birth until his kingship, with different eras of his life spent in the different Polynesian islands. It is a larger than life presentation of Polynesian cultures, and is the top-rated show in Hawaii. The show ends around 9-ish. (Photography and videography are not allowed inside, so I only got to take photos after the curtain call.)    

At the entrance, again.

Hawaii Five-0. (Playing around with the displays while waiting for our evening show to start.)

Inside Pacific Theater, right after the curtain call of "Ha: Breath of Life."

- We later whizzed through the roads of Oahu in the dark for an hour until we reached our hotel. Although I knew that I could now take it easier since our two day trips were finally day, I still had one more full day left to explore downtown Oahu and an early morning shoot at a "magical" island!!

- Don't forget to read Part 1 here, Part 2 here, Part 3 here, and Part 5 here!!