The Polynesian Cultural Centre is the other 'must do" on this island. Again another long day and night, but by now the kids are absolute troopers and don't really mind the 12 hour days - as long as they get an ice cream they are happy. This centre is run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and all staff are either members of the church or students at the near by BYU -Brigham Young University. 6 different island groups are represented Hawaii, NZ, Tonga, Tahiti, Fiji and Samoa. Each area has a traditional house, craft stall and traditional activity such as dance, music or hunting activity. At the end of the day we went to the cultural show with dinner and then onto the stage production Ha - Breath of Life, about the journey through life which was amazing. We may be a bit biased but the Tongans put on the best show of the night!!
A traditional welcome ceremony into the NZ hut
The kiwi girls doing their Poi dance
Lyndon, Emily and Dylan battled it out with 3 others to be the last one standing in the pole catching game
Us outside a traditional Tongan fale
The Tongan activity was drumming involving crowd participation which was a lot of fun
Welcome to Tonga folks
Of all the places in the whole wide world, Lyndon ran into one of his Tongan workmates Hici, at the Tongan Centre - of course
A great example how many tapa cloths can be folded and folded and used as a mattress. Also prominent in the fale was a tribute to the late King George Tupou V
The boys giving the spear throwing a go
Always keen to have a go at fishing even if there is nothing much to catch.
There was a Rainbows of Paradise canoe parade of all the islands doing their traditional dances.
Of which Tonga was the best
Em and Lyndon in the Fiji hut with music sticks.
I can climb a coconut tree - it's easy Dylan says. Of course it is, in bare feet, but unfortunately for the kids they were not allowed to take their shoes off, therefore they didn't get very high. Also, all that safety gear threw him off apparently, because you don't use that stuff in Tonga.
Emily gave it a go too, and got a tad bit higher than Dylan. Notice though, she cheated, no shoes (just socks) and no safety gear.
This is how the professionals do it.
Jodie with her favourite of the day, a cool little Samoan dude, notice he is on tippy toe.
A Hoku Pa'a canoe ride around the island displays and under the tree where Elvis sung his heart out in the movie "Blue Hawaii".
Just before dinner with our lei's.
They packed in about 500 for dinner and a show, food was traditional Hawaiian which was nice, and as expected, very similar to Tongan food.
The "King" of the show being escorted off stage.
Getting the puaka out of the umu
The evening show was absolutely incredible and a great finish to a long day.
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