Kia
Ora...and welcome to the Polynesian
Cultural Center's islands of Aotearoa, or the "Land of the Long
White Cloud" as the New Zealand Maori call their homeland of the
past 1,000 years. Aotearoa forms the southwestern apex of the Polynesian
Triangle and is the only part of Polynesia to
experience four seasons. Consequently, you'll notice the Maori — whose
name means the "true people" — created significantly
different housing and lifestyles than their Polynesian cousins in the
tropical islands. Oh, and yes, the appropriate response to a Maori
greeting, which means "good health," is also Kia Ora.
Island
activities
Five times each afternoon — at 2:00, 3:00, 4:00, 5:00 and 5:30 — the
Maori put on a demonstration that explains the symbolic significance of their
beautiful meeting house, unique carvings, facial tattoos, the ancient origins
and meanings of sticking out their tongues and twirling poi balls, and other
aspects of one of Polynesia's most unusual group of people. You won't want
to miss the stirring haka dance; kids will enjoy learning to play tititorea,
a Maori stick game designed to develop hand-eye coordination, and kids of all
ages seem to enjoy the ta moko area where they can get a temporary tattoo.
The
Maori Pa...
or fortified compound encloses a marae or open area that is surrounded
by several key structures, including the carved entrance where challenges are
sometimes issued; the focal point Whare Runanga or
meeting house where most presentations and important events in Maori tribal
life occur; the Whare Whakairo or "carved
house" where a chief and his family would live; the Whare
Puni or family dwelling house, which doubles as a museum; and
the Pataka, a food storage shed.
Aotearoa
also features a historic 40-man waka taua (war
canoe), a traditional watch tower, and a carver's hut with a gift shop
and snack stand.
Discover
more about the Maori
