FAMILIES EXPERIENCE FUN SIDE OF POLYNESIA WITH OHANA ADVENTURE

Passport to Polynesia and Keiki Kau Kau Highlight PCC’s New Family Programs

April 22, 2005 La‘ie, HI- Finding a fun, educational experience the whole family can enjoy on a vacation just got a little bit easier with the introduction of the Ohana Adventure package at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Just in time for Summer 2005, the PCC is offering the Ohana Adventure featuring all the best activities and games a family can do together including the Keiki Kau Kau, a family-friendly luau created especially for kids. In addition, the Passport to Polynesia will give families a chance to play together and discover new things with a keepsake passport that also serves as a learning tool.

“We’re excited to offer our visiting families something new for their vacation experience this summer,” said Alfred Grace, vice president of sales and marketing for the PCC. “The Keiki Kau Kau will give families a fun, abbreviated luau-type experience that will orient them to the day’s activities in each village. We’re especially pleased to offer the Passport to Polynesia for our keiki guests to use and take home, full of memories from their trip.”

The Keiki Kau Kau lunch offers a mix of traditional luau tastes with modern treats every keiki will love including kalua pork, chicken long rice, hot dogs, island baked chicken, taro rolls and more. The entertainment will feature interactive performances that involve all of the family, Polynesian costumes for the keiki to try on and samples of village activities in a fun, exciting show.

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The Passport to Polynesia is a child’s guide to navigating the fun activities and shows presented at the PCC. This colorful booklet has a schedule of the day’s activities geared toward a family experience, as well as space to write down the greeting for each island village and collect themed stamps to show completion of the games or activities. If the child collects at least 3 stamps, he or she qualifies for a free prize at the PCC’s main shop located in the Treasures of Polynesia Marketplace.

The Passport also explains the names of the games in each island and provides a fun illustration to keep it top of mind, even when the child returns home. The keepsake booklet is a reminder of the fun, educational experience they had at the PCC with their family. It’s also a tool they can use to supplement their schoolwork when they return to school.

Village activities are always fun at the PCC, and with ohana-friendly games highlighted to give parents and children an opportunity to learn together, the experience is family bonding at its best. The schedule of activities for families puts them on course to play together throughout the islands of Polynesia starting in Samoa with weaving, fire-making, fiti, ailao (stick twirling) and the coconut shell dance. Next is a swinging good time in Aotearoa New Zealand with the poi balls and stick dance. Kids can also sneak in a cultural tattoo that mom and dad will approve of because it washes off. There’s also a derua (bamboo) music lesson for everyone to learn in Fiji.

Then it’s off to the Hawaiian village to learn the hula and play ancient versions of bowling (ulu maika), checkers (konane) and putting the ball in the loop (pala‘ie). Tasting poi is just part of the fun when learning about the Hawaiian culture. The Marquesas welcome all musicians-in-training with a chance to learn how to beat the pahu drums, weave your own utete (Jew’s Harp), and get another parent-approved cultural tattoo.

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