Hawaii Day 2: BYU Hawaii, The Temple, and the Polynesian Cultural Center

On Wednesday, Nov. 23, We headed up to Laie to visit BYU Hawaii, the temple grounds, and the Polynesian Cultural Center. We started at BYU Hawaii, with a plan to visit the bookstore. We overlooked the fact that we were visiting on the day before Thanksgiving. Everything was closed that day. We still walked around the campus and took some pictures

After BYU, we headed over to the temple grounds. We took some pictures, walked around the grounds, and went inside the visitor center. We watched a couple of short movies about the Laie temple and what makes it special. Danny and I discovered our dream senior mission (working in the visitor center there).

After the temple, we headed over to the PCC. It wasn't quite open yet, so we grabbed some lunch right outside. When it was time to head in, we were assigned a tour guide (from Tonga) and we were off. 

I'm not sure if I remember the order that we visited the islands, but according to my memory we started in New Zealand, then Samoa, Hawaii, Fiji, Tahiti, and last was Tonga. New Zealand performed the Haka

 We also played this game with sticks after the show. You could only use one hand to hold your stick and the person in the middle would should "right" or "left." You had to let go of your stick and grab the stick to either the right or the left while moving that way. if your stick fell, then you were out.

Robbie made it to the top 3.

The kids are showing off their tattoos that they got at one of the islands. I can't remember which one.

This guy was hilarious. I believe he was from Samoa. He was telling all kinds of jokes as he described the culture. There was a part of the presentation where he broke upen a coconut and then scraped out the flesh using a sharp rock. He made it look so easy and it is definitely not easy. I know, because I have tried it at home. They also did palm tree climbing demonstration afterwards. They also made that look easy.

This was a really large boat that one of the islands built to get off of the island. If I am remembering correctly, they came and inspected this boat when designing the boats in the movie Moana.

Brian volunteered to play the drums in the Tonga show. He had no idea that they were going to make him wear a skirt and look foolish. At least that was their intent, to make people laugh. But he did a great job and came away from it with a palm leaf crown.

Here we are waiting for one of the shows to start.

And a shot of some of the group walking during the tour.

After the tour, we headed to the luau, complete with flower leis, pineapple smoothies (in an actual pineapple), and a whole pig. The food was amazing, and the atmosphere was even better.

During the show, the younger kids went up on stage for a bit.

After the luau was over, we had some free time. We took a couple of pictures up on the stage and we learned how to play the ukelele.

And then it was time for the Ha Breath of Life show. We got there first.

The kids mixed up a bit after their cousins arrived. The boys really wanted Tommy to sit in between them. And then he promptly fell asleep within 10 minutes of sitting down. The show was good, but we were all exhausted after a long day and because of jet lag. I think most of us struggled to stay awake.

And on the car ride home, I think Ashley was the only kid that was still awake at the end of the drive. It was a super fun day and we learned so much about the Polynesian and the programs that are in place to help them gain an education by working at the cultural center.