Kap (short for Kapeneta or “Cabinet,” who has a twin brother named Pal Tafiti, short for “Parliament,” so you can see where this came from) has consistently been one of the Polynesian Cultural Center’s most popular cultural ambassadors. Not only is he extremely knowledgeable about Sāmoan culture, but he’s also very witty and makes it fun to learn about his people.
You may not have known, however, these additional facts about him:
Kap is obviously very fit, and all those muscles are for real; but why or how? Answer: He’s been a vegetarian for a long time — kind of unusual for a Sāmoan, and he’s still climbing 50-foot-tall coconut trees in his mid-50s. Of course, not as often as he did back in his 40s, but that’s right, he’s in his 50s!
Kap’s family name is actually Tafiti. The Te’o part comes from his wife’s maiden name (they are shown at the left), Tiare Te’o. He uses it to honor and show his love for her. Her father, Matt Te’o, was one of the youngest “labor missionaries” who helped build the Polynesian Cultural Center in the early 1960s.
When he’s not climbing coconut trees or starting fires by rubbing sticks together, or even still fire knife dancing in the Samoan Village or during special night show performances, Kap is also a fine artist.
He first started working at the Cultural Center as a student studying art next door at BYU–Hawaii. He even has a little shop as part of the Center’s Hukilau Marketplace where he sells his creations. Stop by if you get a chance.
Kap (short for Kapeneta or “Cabinet,” who has a twin brother named Pal Tafiti, short for “Parliament,” so you can see where this came from) has consistently been one of the Polynesian Cultural Center’s most popular cultural ambassadors. Not only is he extremely knowledgeable about Sāmoan culture, but he’s also very witty and makes it fun to learn about his people.
