Every trip we discover a place that resonates with us, an experience that marks us in a special way, and sometimes even transforms us. Our favorite part of the trip to Hawaii was a day spent at the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) on Oahu – the island of Honolulu.
Founded in 1963, the center is dedicated to preserving and presenting Polynesian cultures. It is divided into seven different villages with exotic names – Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Rapa Nui (Easter Island), and Aotearoa (New Zealand). In each village, you can participate in interactive workshops, watch cultural demonstrations, and enjoy dance and music performances.
We hesitated for a long time before going because the entrance fee is quite steep. But we were determined because Hawaii holds a special place in our hearts: visiting this atoll completes our Polynesian triangle. In the past, we visited Easter Island and New Zealand (Maori culture), which form the other points of the triangle, as well as French Polynesia, at the very center of the Polynesian triangle. By visiting the PCC, we wanted to bring together all the knowledge we had gained about Polynesian culture during our previous travels, and we were not disappointed.
We spent no less than 9 hours on site. The day begins at 12:30 PM with a grand canoe show; all the represented cultures perform dances on double-hulled canoes, typical of the Polynesian islands.
Afterwards, we visited all the villages with a guide assigned specifically to our small group. Our guide was a young Taiwanese woman, and like many of the guides and workers on site, she is studying at Brigham Young University in Hawaii (a Mormon university), located right next to the PCC. The PCC is actually a non-profit organization, and all profits go towards enriching the visitor experience and covering the educational expenses of the young employees, who come from all over the world. The PCC is not just a business focused on profit at all costs, and you can feel it in the contagious enthusiasm of the people who work there.
In each village, we learned a little more about the country’s history and culture, and we also tried different experiences, like dancing the Tahitian way, making fire by rubbing two sticks together, or competing in a Maori skill game.
We were treated to a total of three shows: the opening canoe show, the luau – a traditional Hawaiian feast where we shared meals, music, and dances – and the grand final evening show, which was simply breathtaking. More than once, Corinne and I had tears in our eyes, moved by the beauty of the various performances.
In recent years, we have witnessed a revival of Polynesian culture (language, crafts, dance, philosophy of life, etc.). For example, in Hawaii, the indigenous language had been completely lost, and in recent years, young Hawaiians have been receiving their education in their native language. The same thing has happened with the Maori in New Zealand and on Rapa Nui (Easter Island).
For 60 years, the PCC has been dedicated to promoting Polynesian culture. It’s truly a place to visit if you have the chance to go to Hawaii. Our favorite.
Aloha (Hawaii), Ia Orana (Tahiti), Kia Ora (New Zealand), and many more!
