TALK STORY

MOST RECENT STORIES

Scooter

Scooter Riders Aloha

These short stories come straight from the voice of our beloved Governor, Jimmy Mapu. With humor, heart, and a whole lot of personality, Jimmy shares moments that will make you laugh, reflect, and feel the spirit of the Polynesian Cultural Center. Each story is a small glimpse into life at the Center—told the way only the Governor can tell it.

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BeAgoodboy

Be a Good Boy or I’ll HAUNT You Down!

These short stories come straight from the voice of our beloved Governor, Jimmy Mapu. With humor, heart, and a whole lot of personality, Jimmy shares moments that will make you laugh, reflect, and feel the spirit of the Polynesian Cultural Center. Each story is a small glimpse into life at the Center—told the way only the Governor can tell it.

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Feeling the Spirit

These short stories come straight from the voice of our beloved Governor, Jimmy Mapu. With humor, heart, and a whole lot of personality, Jimmy shares moments that will make you laugh, reflect, and feel the spirit of the Polynesian Cultural Center. Each story is a small glimpse into life at the Center—told the way only the Governor can tell it.

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happy-return-article

Happy Return

A forgotten $5 bill, kept for decades, carried more than monetary value. When it was quietly returned to the Polynesian Cultural Center, it revealed a promise, a love story, and a meaning far deeper than anyone expected.

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don't-poke-the-bear

Donʻt Poke the Bear

A late night, a crowded courtyard, and an unexpected poke stopped everything. What a 92-year-old grandmother whispered next—followed by a raised cane and contagious laughter—left a lesson that stayed long after the night ended.

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Jiiiiiiiiimmy_article

Jiiiiiiiiimmy

In the early 1960s as a missionary in Sāmata, Savai‘i, I once joined a high chief for breakfast, served *sua pusi*—moray eel cooked in coconut milk. A guest refused to eat, noting that not even flies would land on it. Later that day, a truckload of villagers was rushed to the hospital with food poisoning from that same eel. My companion and I, protected by the Lord’s promise, felt no sickness at all. I’ve never eaten eel again.

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Pass Thru Tunnel

 A Place Born of Love

It truly is a privilege to be associated with this very special place, and although I am unworthy, I am truly grateful to be able to be a small part of it each and every day.

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