March 10, 2005 La‘ie, HI: Experience the rush of underwater diving and witness the magnificent coral reefs of the South Pacific in the latest IMAX™ film, Coral Reef Adventure, now showing at the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC).

“We decided to show Coral Reef Adventure here at the PCC because it highlights the beauty and vitality of the coral reefs that are integral to sustaining life in Polynesia,” said Alfred Grace, vice president of sales and marketing at the PCC.

The film follows the real-life expedition of ocean explorers and underwater filmmakers Howard and Michele Hall, offering viewers a guided tour through the islands and waters of the South Pacific as they document the health and beauty of coral reefs that flourish on the ocean floor. It is an adventure that educates and inspires many viewers with appreciation of the planet’s coral reefs.

From the underwater coastline of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef to the ocean corals of Fiji and the skies of Tahiti to the shark-filled canyons off isolated Rangiroa, the Halls take viewers through an adventure that captures the many interesting habitats that inhibit the coral reefs. Viewers also get to see the different types of creatures that make the ocean their home, including tiny shrimp all the way to hundreds of grey sharks. It also provides a glimpse into the devastating consequences of human actions on the reefs.

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The Halls’ adventure includes meeting with scientists and conservationists in Fiji to understand the reefs and diving with world-renowned ocean advocate Jean-Michel Cousteau, Rusi Vulakoro, and Richard Pyle, a deep-sea ichthyologist.

Coral Reef Adventure is produced and distributed by MacGillivray Freeman Films in association with the National Wildlife Federation, the nation’s largest member-supported conservation group.

Coral Reef Adventure is currently showing daily except Sundays at the PCC along with The Living Sea, an Academy Award® nominated film from MacGillivray Freeman Films.

Tickets are $5.00 or included with the purchase of any admission package. Call (800) 367-7060 for more information or to make reservations. In Hawaii, call 293-3333. Show times are 1:30 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m., 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. daily, except Sundays. The 5:00 p.m. showing is in Japanese with English available via headsets. Visit www.polynesia.com for more information.

Founded in 1963 as a non-profit organization, the PCC has entertained more than 31 million visitors while preserving and portraying the culture, arts, and crafts of Polynesia to the rest of the world. In addition, the PCC has provided financial assistance to 14,000 young people from more than 70 different countries while they have attended Brigham Young University-Hawai‘i. As a non-profit organization, all funds generated by the PCC are used for its daily operations and to support its cultural and educational missions.
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