Renée Ahuna Cabrinha: “Free rein” at the PCC
Renée Ahuna Cabrinha practically grew up at the Polynesian Cultural Center as a young girl. He husband and children have also worked at the PCC.
Three cashiers staff PCC’s first box office in 1963
B.J. Fuller was one of the original Polynesian Cultural Center cashiers. She also sang at many PCC functions over the next several decades.
‘Aunty Val’: A PCC ‘living treasure’
Aunty Valetta Nepia Jeremiah from New Zealand devoted 50 years of her life to the Polynesian Cultural Center, and was revered as a “living treasure.”
Beth McKinnon Hunt: ‘Kiwi & Kangaroo’ days
Before marrying George Hunt of Samoa, Beth McKinnon Hunt left Australia to attend Church College of Hawaii in 1963, and ended up dancing in the Polynesian Cultural Center night show.
Damuni looked back during 40th anniversary
The late Emosi Damuni recalled how he first came to the Polynesian Cultural Center in 1964 during the 40th anniversary in 2003.
Camakau gets new ‘home’ in Fijian Village
[Reprinted from a 2004 story and photo by Mike Foley] Over 20 years ago the Polynesian Cultural Center commissioned the people of Kabara in Fiji’s Lau Islands archipelago to make a traditional ocean-voyaging canoe. Using only indigenous materials, they handcrafted a 40-foot camakau [voyaging canoe — note: the letter ‘c’ in Fijian is pronounced like a voiced […]
Sione Milford got ‘immersed’ in Tongan culture
[Reprinted from a 2017 PCC blog story and photo by Mike Foley] Sione Milford is currently the Samoan Village “chief,” but when he first came to Laie he worked in the Tongan Village — and some native Tongans didn’t realize that the Polynesian Cultural Center’s Tongan culture ambassador at that time was Samoan. Of course, all […]
Samoan ‘ambassador’ joins East Coast media blitz
Creasepaul Tofa, a PCC Samoan Village culture “ambassador” learned his skills growing up on the island of Savage.
‘Mr. Aloha,’ host to kings and VIPs, retires
Bobby Akoi, who worked at the Center for 42 years, retired as our director of protocol in July 2019.