Our Super Ambassador experience started off well with a red carpet greeting. I noticed that each group got a different color set of kukui nut leis to wear based on our package status. We got tan colored leis but I admired the black and white marbled ones given to the other group. I considered buying one in the gift shops while there but then I thought about how I'd probably never wear it again. Those leading each group to the waiting area (benches and some water carafes) were great and soon the groups were introduced to their guides and led out of the room. While people with the other packages were formed into small groups to travel the center together, our foursome had a personal guide of our own named Sesi from Fiji. She is so greatly admired by her co-workers that we couldn't go far without another of the college students working there telling us that we got the best guide and how fondly they thought of Sesi. During the day we got to learn more about Sesi and the program the Polynesian Cultural Center provides for the local Brigham Young University students. They provide for everything the students need for living in Hawaii and going to school while they are working at the center. Sesi was also shocked to learn that it's only my brother and I in our family as she's one of eight children in her family and that's considered to be a small family back in Fiji. One trait I found pleasantly unique was that she was the only tour guide I've ever had that offered to not only hold your bags during bathroom stops but even offered to continue carrying Amy's backpack throughout the tour. At one point the poor girl was laden down with 3 bags and 2 heavy duty cameras on neck straps. I also appreciated Sesi's consideration of fetching me a chair when she noticed I didn't have a lot of space left on the end of the bench row. She also ran and brought us ponchos as the rain moved in for our last presentation which was on benches with no cover except for the stage.
Everyone's first stop on the tour was to pose for a group photo with some "costumed" employees. At dinner that night, each group was given the opportunity to purchase that photo. I believe Sesi posed the query to Adam and Amy and they turned her down. We didn't plan on purchasing the photo either but it would have been nice to ask each of us or at least Dad since he'd made the reservation.
For the most part, each presentation or activity space we were led to had either no one else there yet or there was cards reserving our spots on the first couple benches. A couple times we'd be led to the next thing only to find that there wasn't cards for us (but for other names) or enough cards for the four seats we needed but Sesi quickly bustled around to find us acceptable spots even if it meant splitting up our group.
Our first stop was an almost private presentation by a young man from Samoa who showed us how they prepare breadfruit over a fire pit dug into the ground into a tasty baked bread pudding style treat. Adam had stepped away to use the restroom and was disappointed that no one saved him any samples.
Our next stop was into a small pavilion where we took our reserved seats in an almost full set of benches. Groups that came after us had to stand in the doorway to watch the presentation. After a musical number performed mostly on bongo drums, several students came out to serve as models as the host explained either their clothing origin and significance or about the tools that were shown. They also provided examples of traditional dances and encouraged each gender in the audience to stand and try the moves of their gender's representative on the stage.
The host asked for two ladies and one guy to volunteer and no one was really willing. They ended up picking people from the audience to make them come up. Each "volunteer" got to don their own grass skirt style costume and competed in a dance off for audience applause. The winner turned out to be the one male, a young teenager from Utah who really played to the crowd when given the chance to freestyle dance.
Those who came up on stage got to walk away with a headpiece made of flowers and vines and it was funny hearing the gasps of surprise in the crowd. "Wait, what? We could have gotten something if we'd come up on stage?" The host even joked about the reaction and encouraged everyone to be more willing to volunteer at the other presentations.
We were led through the various structures set up so that we could see a representation of what a home would be like in each country. We learned a lot about status not only as far as royalty but also status in each family when it comes to who would be allowed to use certain doors in the home or whether your bed had lots of bamboo mats for padding or very few. It was interesting to learn all the little details like how you could tell a queen's home by the small shells or stones in each corner of the posts.
There were a handful of little stands throughout the center to purchase drinks and/or snacks plus a couple places where they provided a water fountain or dispenser. With this private tour we had no issues stopping momentarily to rehydrate or visit the restroom.
To be continued - Next up, the Pageant of the Long Canoes, bald statues, and lots of twirling fire!
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