The Polynesian Cultural Center
Today we had a short class. We talked a little bit about the value orientation of cultures and then drove to the North side of the island to the Polynesian Cultural Center. It was started in the 1960's, and there are six different cultures represented--Samoa, Tahiti, Togo, Fiji, Marquesas, and the Aotearoa (Maouri). We walked around the center, and at each place there were presentations showing different aspects of their culture--at the Samoan presentation, they showed us how they used to start a fire, and how they opened a coconut.
The Aetearoa did a lot of music, starting with their traditional music and progressing through the changes that were made as foreign influences entered into the picture. The Fiji gave us a historical background on their islands, and also did a music/dance presentation, with audience interaction. All of the presentations had audience interaction.
You could see some of their values through the different things they did--the dancing, the rituals. What I found interesting is that in many of the cultures, the men do a lot of the gathering and cooking. We also got to take a little boat ride, and our guide taught us the greetings of the different cultures. Oh, we also learned a hulu dance--not the fast-paced, hip-swaying dancing that you might be thinking of--that's actually the traditional Tihitian dancing, No, we learned the slow dance of the Hawaiian's. It was quite epic, and since everyone was doing it, I didn't feel ridiculous.
But I have to say, one of my favorite things about today was just driving around the north side of the island, seeing new, different scenery--I can't decide which side of the island I like more--the wet side or the dry side. They are both amazing in their own ways.
The Aetearoa did a lot of music, starting with their traditional music and progressing through the changes that were made as foreign influences entered into the picture. The Fiji gave us a historical background on their islands, and also did a music/dance presentation, with audience interaction. All of the presentations had audience interaction.
You could see some of their values through the different things they did--the dancing, the rituals. What I found interesting is that in many of the cultures, the men do a lot of the gathering and cooking. We also got to take a little boat ride, and our guide taught us the greetings of the different cultures. Oh, we also learned a hulu dance--not the fast-paced, hip-swaying dancing that you might be thinking of--that's actually the traditional Tihitian dancing, No, we learned the slow dance of the Hawaiian's. It was quite epic, and since everyone was doing it, I didn't feel ridiculous.
But I have to say, one of my favorite things about today was just driving around the north side of the island, seeing new, different scenery--I can't decide which side of the island I like more--the wet side or the dry side. They are both amazing in their own ways.
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| Sunset from Plantation Hale, the main building here at the conference center |
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