DAY THREE: Part 2- Polynesian Cultural Center

After playing at several beaches and amazing snorkeling we hustled to the PCC to take a mini-vacation to all the islands in Polynesia!

It was fun to just walk across the street from our Villa and be there!

The kids really loved the Tikis in the front, I mean, REALLY liked them!

We ran all the way to Fiji so we could experience a little of what Russ experienced on his mission there in 1986-1988.

Here are some cool things on display in the Fijian village that are very similar to things Russ brought home from his mission. Tapa cloths and mats, fans and more.

Getting ready for the show

The M.C. for the show was sooo funny! He was cracking joke after joke. He asked if anyone in the audience had been to Fiji before. Russ was the only one who had. He asked him when and what islands he lived on. He kept referring to Russ and asking more questions throughout the show.

This dance was our favorite. He is a student at Brigham Young University Hawaii and just arrived from Fijji a few months ago. His English was not very good yet but we had fun talking to him and taking pictures. Russ said he looked exactly like one of his mission companions and wondered if they were somehow related but they weren't.

This Fijian was much shorter and lighter than the other one. He was so fun to watch dance! Got very into it!

The "fan dance"

The Fijian women doing a seated dance. The black dots on their cheeks are a Fijian thing. You saw them on the men at the evening show and in a lot of pictures at the gift shops.

This spear dance was like a fight and surprised us at first when they threw that spear at each other!

At the end they pulled up people from the audience to dance with them. Tess and Rustin were some of the LUCKY ONES!

Rustin trying to figure out what he's supposed to do.

Dance babies, dance!

Our new friend who lived in Nandi, the first island that Russ lived in when he got to Fiji!

Love those grass arm bands. Wanted to find some to buy but couldn't.

Rustin getting his first (and last) tattoo!

Only in honor of their dad. Chloe, Rustin and Olivia got warrior tattoos.

Tess and I got Queen tattoos.

Rustin and his new tribe-mate!

Olivia and her new Fijian friend

Our buddy offered to take us on a ride. We couldn't say no and though we almost sank the little raft, it was fun.

Next we ran to Tonga for their show. Not much info about the island like in Fiji but a hilarious drum show where they made three men "California" shown here, "New Mexico" and "Japan" compete to see who made the best Tongan. California won by a mile. It was hilarious. Especially the super skinny shy Japanese man.

New Mexico had no clue.

I think still in Tonga we learned to toss spears underhand. It was so fun to see them stick into the ground! Russ had amazing aim and came closest to the target by far!

Hey, we're mainlanders!

Speaking of trying things. When Russ got home from his mission he went to the PCC with his mom. One of the men in the villages was teaching the white people how to break open a coconut and Russ's mom started bragging how Russ had just come home from his mission and could do it really fast. The guy laughed and said he was way faster because he had done it all his life and challenged Russ to a contest. Guess who won... RUSS!

Now in Tahiti and the girls are showing us the only words to a goodbye song we all sang together. Their show was informative but pretty slow until the dancers came out and the way those girls shake their hips is

UNREAL!!!! Video below!

I don't know how they do it!

Our first Luau! That's a lot of people!

Russ loved seeing us all experience and taste things he ate for two years in Fiji. I don't think we liked the Taro root as much as he did but that's O.K.

Liv can't wait to get her food.

There's my tattoo and the Shaka sign. "Hang Loose!"

Our roast pig!

Purple poi and rolls all because of the purple taro root. I could be just fine never having poi again but the rolls were good and the root by itself was not bad.

 

Warrior princess Chloe

Chloe and Liv got their turn to dance at the last song in front of EVERYBODY!

The manly way to wear a lei.

Fun little shopping village we hung out in before the show. Liv bought a Tiki that I ran over with the Suburban when we got home! Oops. Sorry Liv. (Don't leave it on the back of my car when you show it too your friends!)

Waiting for the "Horizons" show!

Dancers performed traditional dances from their native countries. This is? 

Tahiti

Tahiti princess and prince. AMAZING!

Most famous dancer. The dancing Samoan. My video camera ran out of film right before he came out!

All tatted out and ready for bed!

Say good bye to the ink Chloe

Rustin's warrior pose!

Simmer down now and go to BED!

Tess's first and LAST! I know it's fake, but still.

Unbelievable Talent!