Submitted by Nya Wynn on the 2022 winter session program in Hawaii sponsored by the Department of Biological Sciences…
This week, one of my favorite things we did was going to the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC). I had no expectations going in, but I was absolutely blown away by how amazing all their demonstrations were. Each group was given a specific island or area to study, and for my group’s presentation, we were given Tahiti. In the Tahiti exhibit, we learned historic ways to cook, dance, fish, throw spears, and make music. We also went to explore the other islands’ exhibits. In Hawaii, I learned how to dance the traditional hula to tell a story about a family through dance. In Samoa, we watched a man scale a coconut tree in a matter of seconds and harvest coconut milk using ancient Samoan ways. And finally in Aotearoa, we learned how they connect with their ancestors through traditional dance and spoken word.
To top off the day, we attended a real Hawaiian Luau with hula dancing, a pig cooked in banana leaves, and other native Hawaiian dishes. After the luau, we went to a live action show depicting the life of someone living across all the Polynesian Islands. There were lots of traditional dances, singing, and fire twirling! We all had the time of our lives!
