[From a story in the PCC’s IMUA Polenesia newsletter, reprinted in pcc50.com, September 19, 2012]
Introduction: “Mama” and “Papa” Pū — the late Tetuatehiapo and Tihoni Pū, who were originally from Tubua’i, French Polynesia — were one of the most beloved couples to serve and work at the PCC in the early years.
They retired from the Center in 1983, the 20th anniversary year.
Mama and Papa Pū: We came to the Polynesian Cultural Center in 1964 as missionaries to the Tahitian Village… Papa made fish traps, drums and to’ere [wooden drums], and played music. Mama’s assignment was weaving — mats, hats, baskets, fans, and threading shell leis. In the night show we both sang in the Tahitian section.
Assigned to the Polynesian feast: After about nine months in the village, both of us were assigned to take care of the food for the Polynesian-style feast…
The menu consisted of banana or papaya po’e, raw fish, Maori bread, kalua pig, haupia pudding, chicken long rice, Samoan pudding, Tongan ‘otai, Tongan lupulu, Samoan palusami and fresh green coconuts (the responsibility of the Fijians).
Emeline Unga helped with the Tongan Food, Vivian Auna with the Hawaiian and Jack Uale’s (Promo Team supervisor) mother, Elisa Uale, with the Samoan food.
In those days, the food was cooked outside the Center. When the food was ready for the feast, we put everything in a van and drove it to the PCC. The dinner and show only happened about three times per week.
We were in charge of the food for five years. Papa was then assigned to build a Tahitian canoe and Mama was put in a special hut by the #4 gate, which was then the official entrance to PCC.
She wove Polynesian crafts until they transferred her to the curio shop where she continued weaving with other ladies: Lagalaga Ālō, Tauamō Malufau and Sophia Reiter (Gladys Pualoa Ahuna’s mother).
We both retired from the Center after 19 years. We love the PCC very much and we will always be grateful to the Church for bringing us from Tahiti.
Faces from the past: There are many faces from the past we will always remember — Joe and Millie TeNgaio (New Zealand); Emosi and Sereima Damuni (Fiji); Isireli Racule (Fiji); Jubilee
and Eugenia Logan (Hawaii), Bill and Lilly Kama (Hawaii);
Also Lydia Colburn, who sang at the old Polynesian buffet; Village Operations managers Glenn Kukahiko and Peter Vamanrav; and Pasi Fuamatu (Samoa).
There are certain memorable activities both of us will also always remember fondly:
The old night show, An Invitation to Polynesia, the canoe pageants…, Elvis Presley arriving by helicopter to film Paradise Hawaiian-Style and the Center opening its gates for business at 10 a.m.
We hope the people working at the Center now will continue to help the PCC grow. We hope they will be honest in their work, take good care of the Center, work hard in everything, look nice for the tourists, make conversation with every visitor, and speak kind words to one another.
