We got up at 6:15am with the plan to join the queue for a US immigration ticket at 7am. We joined the queue at 6:45 and as tickets were not being handed out until 8am we thought we would be 1st. We were wrong. We were 25 & 26. We had an independent trip booked and needed to get to a Waikiki Beach hotel for 10:30. However we knew that passengers permanently disembarking followed by those on P&O trips would be called for immigration first.
The ship docked well ahead of time and US officials and sniffer dogs came onboard. We got our tickets at 7:30 and were feeling hopeful so went somewhere quiet to relax and read and to see if Cafe Vivvo was open yet - it wasn’t. Then, at 8am we were called. We rushed before they changed their minds. We could only think the shore excursion passengers were not ready and organised, and US immigration are not ones to be kept twiddling their thumbs, so we were sent ahead of schedule. We were processed, with a tick now added to the magic sticker, and into a taxi by 8:15am.
We arrived at our pick up hotel 2hrs early. It didn’t bother us at it had shops for water (and crisps) a Starbucks for breakfast and very fast free Wi-Fi which we made full use of. It also was very welcoming.
The drive up to the Polynesian Culture Centre took about 90mins and we got to see a lot of the island with a bit of commentary by the bus driver. The centre is a 42 acre site in total and the public areas are split into 2 sections: a very large area separated into the six Polynesian countries with lakes/waterways between them.this doesn’t open until 12:45.
The other area is the first you experience - it is the marketplace. It also includes the theatre. It basically includes, stalls, shops, food outlets and even a shop about Ukuleles - we didn’t go there as had quite enough of that thank you.
We had a look around and got a cookie and cake from Aunt Emily’s bakery and dodged a rain shower. Then it was time to enter the islands.
Pamela really wanted to do this place and we went to town and pre-booked a VIP ambassadors package. This included our own personal tour guide - Tayla. The centre is attached to brigham Young University and around 75% of the money goes to scholarships for its students who are the main workforce on site. This is another reason why it doesn’t open in the morning as they students are having lessons then.
She escorted us to a VIP area where were given wristbands and a lei garland (not the flower one, that came later) and we were offered free bottled water, ponchos, crisps etc.. before we started our tour. We started with a canoe boat ride. They called it a canoe but we would call it a raft as it seated about 20 but was canoe shaped. The trip was about 10 mins and the driver who pushed the canoe with a stick, talked about each of the islands ,their culture and their rules - I didn’t want you thinking of us kayaking or anything. This is a picture with part of it in.
Tayla met us and we went off to our first Island - Fiji. We were shown around the village and she explained their culture and how the islands were settled. We were taken to our first village show where Tayla took us to reserved seats, with our names on, at the front. The
Figi story with dance then temporary tattoos each meaning something Pam’s meant Queen and Mark’s meant Navigator. You will see them in some later pictures. Mark’s navigator one could have used a compass but that’s a different story.
We moved onto the Hawaii island where we tried some food tasting and again saw some village chief house and a temple. We attended another show, this time Hula dancing But it was 2 styles (original and then contemporary) the original was very stern whilst now it is more graceful. The dances tell stories with the hand and arm motions and the hula dance we all recognise is not Hawaiian but from Tahiti. The reserved, front row seating probably annoyed others as we bypassed queues but that was worth the extra money to us.
Then onto Tahiti with its music and a wedding. We were one of about 20 couples that stood up to renew our wedding vows Polynesian style. Instead of saying I do you are each asked the question will you ever leave your partner and you must give the answer, in local language, “No, Never”. I think we have renewed our vows but with Mark past performance of mishearing words in church - who knows. (Mark once confused Peace be with you with Pleased to meet you.)
We then went and tried coconut bread before moving onto Tongo where we were involved with spear throwing - a bit risky basically there were a couple of chickens roaming around but then again the evening buffet did feature quite a bit of chicken. Off to our reserved seating for an hilarious Tongan drumming show with 3 volunteers - the poor man from Korea was not very good at following instructions. We will put it down to language barriers but the look of disbelief from his wife gave the game away.
Later we went to Aorearoa (local name for New Zealand). These are seriously angry people and warriors. We saw a Haka demonstration and went poi training which is normally a stone on the end of a string but we had soft balls instead. Good job too as we were so uncoordinated with Pam either tangling her right and left poi’s or smacking herself in the end whilst Mark was getting a little bit more fluent until he smacked himself in the face and the balls at the same time. We retired from this activity as gracefully as we could. Their island show was good with story telling of family and more dance, stick smacking and swapping and Hakas. Again, we had prime seats and managed to avoid the audience participation.
We went into their village hut where their weapons made of stone and wood and teeth were explained. We were then told the huts were made in New Zealand and shipped here and they depict the ancestors one of which is a current student.
Our last island was Samoa. This was our favourite and a truly nutty place. We first saw a coconut tree climbing demonstration followed by fire dancing. We then attended our final village show with a standup comic from Samoa who was hilarious.
Our time with Tayla had come to an end and we were taken to the Luau which was a buffet but with a show running alongside it with music and dance. The story told the history of Hawaiian monarchy and how stories were so important. The food was plentiful and we were stuffed.
After the show we took a short trolley ride around the local town and saw the university we had heard a lot about. Then it was the big show HA Breath of Life. This showed off all the talents of the six islands thru a 80min story around family. It was a bit circle of lifeish but really emphasised how love and family were the strong bonds - even after death. We had had a wonderful day and so much could have gone wrong so maybe our parent(s) and ancestors were with us all day ensuring that things were going well just like at times in the show.
At the end the show the actors shook the hands of the guests in the front and thanked them for coming. A lovely touch.
Time to leave the Polynesian Culture Centre for a 90min ride home and then a further 15min taxi ride back to the ship. We got back at 11:30pm absolutely shattered.
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