Polynesian Cultural Center

Kari's parents, Shawn and Mary Carol, came to visit us for a week! They got in last night, so we decided to go to the PCC today. It was such a cool experience! There was so much to see! It was neat to see the cultures of each island; their differences, but also their similarities. We had a tour guide and he took us to the best shows, but we missed some of the islands. So we're going to go back tomorrow and finish up everything we didn't see. So here are the pictures from today!

This was during our backstage tour. We are standing on the stage where they perform the night show: Ha, The Breath of Life. All the plants are real, so the stadium is only half covered. It's beautiful!

This was New Zealand. They danced and sang for us.

Mary Carol and I weaved fish with leaves from a coconut tree.

Waiting for the canoe show to start. It was so HOT!!!!

The canoe show was really cool to watch! Each island came out on their own canoes and danced and sang! I was surprised they were all able to stay on their canoes! Very cool...

The Samoan Show was probably one of my favorites! The guys were so funny! They showed us how to start a fire from a coconut, how to open a coconut, how to make coconut milk, and how to climb a coconut tree! It was very entertaining.

Kari next to the war canoe from New Zealand. It could hold up to 40 warriors. If they needed to speak to each other, they would all duck their heads down and whisper. The sound would carry throughout the entire canoe.

We just got off the canoe ride. That was so fun! We got to ride by in the river and look at all the different islands. Our 'driver' was really entertaining, too.

About to eat!

We had front row seats at the Luau. They showed us how they cook the whole pig! That was a little bit creepy...but interesting! They danced and sang while we ate. Then they had all the newlyweds/people celebrating their anniversary/people about to get married/people on their honeymoon come up and dance on stage. So we went up! It was actually our first dance as a married couple. Not bad that it was in Hawaii at a Luau :)

Last, but not least, we went to the night show. Ha: the Breath of Life was amazing! It was all about a boy who grows up through the different cultures of the islands. It was cool to have a story line to follow as we watched each of the islands perform. The dancing was amazing. I wish I could move like those girls!

All in all, today was awesome!!! I had so much fun with the family! Definitely one of my favorite days we've had here in Hawaii!