[Reprinted from pcc50.com, the Polynesian Cultural Center‘s 50th-anniversary website, some of which is being merged into this site, on September 10, 2013; interview and photo by Mike Foley]
One of the PCC’s youngest dancers: Renée now lives in Hauula, but she grew up in Laie and owned a wedding planning business at the time of the 50th-anniversary reunion.
She and her husband, Alvin Cabrinha — who scooped ice cream at the PCC under Aunty Emily Kaopua when he was in high school, and later worked for a while in Purchasing — have eight children: Ho‘oulu was working here as a steel guitar player at the time at the time of the interview, and daughter, Nāmele Cabrinha, was on the Promo Team.
Renée shares her story: We used to live right across Kamehameha Highway, and I remember when I was about six years old, my dad told us they were going to build the Polynesian Cultural Center.
He said they were going to move my grandmother’s house. That was a sad thing for me, because I loved having my grandparents [Moke and Susan Ahuna Hiram] right across the street, with all my cousins.
We played together every day. They eventually knocked down those homes and started building the Center.
My dad, Joe Ahuna, who later worked in the movie props business, was a tour driver back then: He was very instrumental in getting the tour buses to stop at the PCC. He was one of those who would be waving on the road to get everybody to stop. He also helped negotiate some of the early tours to PCC.
My mom was a really excellent cook, and she worked at what they called the pūpū [Hawaiian snacks] house.
Next door to the Tahitians: When I was eight years old, the Mapuhi family lived right next door to us, and Aunty Erena kind of took me as one of her girls and taught me to dance Tahitian.
My parents [Joe and Vivian Ahuna] were very close to all the Tahitians that came; they were kind of like their host parents.
For example, Tekehu Munanui lived by us. So, we always had them over to our house, and my parents made sure they understood everything.
A little solo Tahitian dancer: When the PCC night show first
started, Aunty Erena Mapuhi asked my mom if I could dance in the show. They made my costume, and I would go to all those rehearsals that sometimes ran until 3:00 in the morning.
There were also a couple of other little Tahitian dancers — Martine Tapu and Sina Mapuhi. They were both on the drums in the Elvis movie. I was there, too, but my scene got cut.
I would watch them all night long. We had these big drums on the stage: I would hide behind them, and finally when it came time for the solos, I would come out as a little solo Tahitian dancer.
Then, when I started dancing in the Hawaiian section, it was a dollar for that and a dollar for the Tahitian section, and when we went up on the mountain, that was an extra dollar.
I also worked in the Tahitian Village, and later in Shop Polynesia where I was Aunty Alice Logan’s secretary.
Getting paid to dance: I was actually hired and got paid back then. I danced at the PCC from 1963-75. In the beginning, I got paid a dollar for the whole night.
Along the way, I learned quite a bit of Tahitian and French, and still speak them. My mom would send me to Tahiti during the summers, and I would stay with the Kimitete family, Pierre and Augustine, and the Mapuhi’s.
Special lasting friendships: Making all of those lasting friendships was so special. It’s been wonderful to see everybody again. We just never lose that closeness, because we spent so many hours together.
We would go fishing in the lagoon when we were younger, and then throw the tilapia back when we were done. We had free rein of the Polynesian Cultural Center back in those days.
I remember when President Joseph Fielding Smith visited, and I loved Elder [Marvin J.] Ashton when he was here [as President of the PCC and Chairman of the Board]. We were very close to him; he was my hero.
I want to add my mahalo to everyone who has contributed to all these happy memories.
