The Ploynesian Cultural Center

Yesterday we went to the Polynesian Cultural Center.  We drove on H3 West.  I was really impressed with how the mountains seem to shoot straight up out of the ground.  Here are a few pictures taken from the car.  It just gives you an idea of how steep the mountains are and how lush and green they are.

The tunnel goes right through the mountain.  When you come out you have the view of the coast and the city below.  It is beautiful.

You can see it is kind of cloudy so we stopped and bought an umbrella.  We were afraid it was going to rain, but it turned out to be a beautiful day.  Even got a little sunburn on my arms.

The Polynesian Cultural Center.  It was built to show case the diverse culture of the Hawaiian Islands and the neighboring islands.  The students at BYU Hawaii work at the Cultural Center in order to pay their tuition and afford themselves with the opportunity to receive a college degree.  There are approximately 3,000 students that attend BYU Hawaii.  Students attend classes in the morning and work at the PCC in the afternoon and evening.  I am impressed with the talent that is showcased and the beauty of the center.  Everyone should spend a day at the PCC.

The men do all the cooking in Samoa.  This man is taking the skin off the bread fruit and it will be cooked in the fire pit along with fish and other vegetables.  He compared bread fruit to the potato.  It is a starch.

They are getting the stones ready in the fire pit.  After they are ready they lay the stones out, put the meat and vegetables on the leaves and then on the hot stones.  They cover the food with more leaves and then cover the food with more hot stones.   They cook it for 1 hour and then it is ready to eat.  If a Samoan man does not smell like fire, then he is not a good cook, or a good catch.

The food is on the fire and cooking.  Dinner will be ready in 1 hour.

The Long House

Weaving fish out of palm leaves.  I saved my fish for Nathan and Brian saved his fish for Wade.  We'll see if they make it home in one piece.

This is the world.

Tonga

Each island put on a presentation while traveling down the river.



We concluded the day with dinner and a program.  The Cultlural Center was a great experience!

Last night's Sunset and more Hawaii

These are pictures of the beach and last night's sunset.

We went to church this morning and when we walked in we saw that the entire gym was set up with chairs.  I guess they must get a lot of visitors.  It made me think of Island Park.  One of the missionaries spoke and he is from Boise, and he is a TWIN!!!  How great is that?!  His twin is serving in Mexico City.  He said he was the rebel of the family because everyone else had served in Mexico.  He said that if he had to be the rebel he was really glad that it was in Hawaii.  We visited with him after church and that was fun.  He is 6'6" and no he doesn't play basketball.  Wow, he was really tall.

After church we drove to the Temple.  It poured when as we drove to the Temple but as soon as Brian dropped me off at the Visitors Center, it quit raining.  We really planned that right.  The temple grounds are beautiful and the missionaries in the Visitors Center were fun to visit with.  One girl was from Japan and the other was from Micronesia.

We also went to BYU Hawaii

On the drive home we drove south along the east coast of the island.  It is fascinating how on one side of the street there are huge rugged mountains and on the other side of the street is the ocean.  It rained again.

That's it for now.  The time is running away from us.  We are going to the Polynesian Cultural Center tomorrow, so stay tuned.