Hawaii, Day 10

Today is December 28th, our 9th cruise day and 10th day of vacation.

Honolulu in the early dawn, as we approach

Arriving in Honolulu. as seen from our balcony

Got up, did a breakfast at the Horizon Court buffet, went to the terminal to wait for our bus. Our driver was Garfield Namohoe, who ends up being related to one of DeeAnns former students, Summer.

Kings Palace

King Kahehameha's statue in front of the Pal

We then went to an overlook, took some pictures.

Beautiful views from the overlook

Chicken.  They run wild throughout the islands.

The Pali overlook is where many men jumped to their death rather than serving King Kahamaemae.  Very windy up there.  The next stop we went to was the Dole Plantation.

Gardens at the Dole Plantation

Getting off the bus, a lady fell and landed hard.  An ambulance was called and she was taken to the hospital.  We later discovered that she was all right, no broken bones.  The plantation was more of a gift shop, with lots of Dole products.

Hawaii LDS Temple we passed on the way to the Polynesian Cultural Center

We then proceeded to go to the Polynesian Cultural Center, a site dedicated to study and preservation of the island cultures.  Because it is part of the BYU-Hawaii campus, there are many college students that work there.

Polynesian Cultural Center

Future BYU students

We drove past the temple, a very beautiful structure.  They served a lunch buffet of BBQ chicken, pork ribs, corn on the cob, salads, and BYU brownies.  The jello cheesecake was especially interesting.

Lunch was also the spot where a evening show is performed.  Food server buffet style.

As we walked around the center we found a craft shop, and DeeAnn discovered a friend, Kelly Smith, who helped her make the bears for Shane Bodells children.

DeeAnn and Kelly

Kent at Polynesian Cultural Center

Vegetation around Polynesian Cultural center.

Views around the Center

Center is divided into several sections, each representing an individual portion of Polynesia

Performers are also in each section, highlighting music, dance, legends, and the people of the land.  In some cases they also feature arts and crafts and foods.

Artifacts on display throughout the center, showing the skill of workmanship developed by the people over the centuries

Architecture was replicated as true to original plans as possible

Furnishings were also replicated to show how the chiefs and elders might have lived

We attended a show about Fiji, watched the parade of river canoes. 

Each culture was represented by different dances and music, each performed aboard floating barges

Dinner was on our own as the dining room was closed.


Here is Princess description of our excursion:  "Immerse yourself in Polynesian culture on this rigorous full-day excursion. Your adventure begins at the pier where you will board an air conditioned motorcoach for a 90-minute scenic drive through the breathtaking landscape toward Oahu's lush windward side.

En route, glimpse the lifestyle of the Hawaiian monarchy of a bygone era when you drive by Queen Emma's Summer Palace, the beautifully restored Hawaiian-Victorian summer retreat of the wife of King Kamehameha IV.

Travel a narrow road that winds through lush tropical forest growing on stratified cliffs on your way to the Pali Lookout in the rugged Ko'olau Mountains. This stunning lookout with awe-inspiring vistas of the island is rumored to be the site of a bloody battle in 1795 in which King Kamehameha I forced thousands of his opponents to jump to their deaths from the cliffs there.

Continue by local highway along the vast pineapple plantations of Wahiawa to the Dole Pineapple Pavilion. Originally operated as a fruit stand beginning in 1950, Dole Plantation opened to the public as Hawaii's "Pineapple Experience" in 1989. Today, it is one of Oahu's most popular visitor attractions featuring a garden and exhibits on the history of the pineapple in Hawaii.

Head for the north shore, home of Oahu's famous surfing beaches such as Pipeline, Sunset Beach and of course Waimea Bay. As you journey you will pass the island's famous Mormon Temple built in 1919.

Disembark at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Located near the village of Laie and founded by Mormon missionaries in 1864, the center preserves the cultures and customs of old Polynesia, from Hawaii to Tonga and Samoa.

Upon your arrival to the 42-acre center, Polynesian villagers (students from nearby Laie campus of the Brigham Young University) will greet you. As you stroll the center you'll find seven different authentic island settings with dozens of fun-filled and informative demonstrations such as Tongan drumming, fire making, coconut tree climbing and traditional dances of Fiji, Hawaii, the Marquesas, New Zealand, Samoa, Tahiti and Tonga.

As the Pageant of Long Canoes floats the waterways of the center regaling you with songs and pageantry of Polynesia, enjoy a complimentary island-style BBQ buffet lunch featuring delicious traditional island dishes.

Following your fascinating day of Polynesian culture, a scenic return drive will take you past the famous Mokolii Island popularly known as Chinaman's Hat because of its unique conical shape resembling the straw coolie hats used by immigrant workers.

If time and traffic permit, drive directly across the island on one of the highway tunnels running below the Koolau Mountains en route to the pier and your Princess ship in the glistening waters of the harbor."

I survived being on a BYU campus for a few hours!

From the ship log: